Biz SpotlightThailand offers plenty of business and investment opportunities. Whether you’re an entrepreneurial individual, a growing small- and medium enterprise, or a cash-rich corporation looking to establish or expand your presence in the kingdom, Biz Spotlight provides up-to-date insights into the country’s business and financial sectors.
Business networks are usually established to ensure an enterprise makes a profit – but for Thai Green Market, a network promoting environmentally friendly products, returns are of a lower priority. Instead, members of the group prefer to share their stories with others and promote the benefits of good health within society. Raising awareness
Thai Green Market was founded two years ago by a group of health conscious individuals from various walks of life, who are genuinely concerned about the environment.
Thai Green Market’s Wallapa van Willenswaard says the network aims to improve the lives of distributors, growers, and producers and raise awareness among consumers of chemical-free products.
It also aims to increase the number of distributors, growers and producers, while trying to convince members of the public to pay attention to and consider switching to environmentally friendly products.
Weekly green markets
The network’s current focus is the establishment of weekly green markets in and around Bangkok. It recently launched its second weekly market at SM Tower (35th floor) on Phahol Yothin Road every Monday from 11am-4 pm.
The network launched its first weekly market, which is held on Thursday, one year ago at the Regent House Building on Rajadamri Road.
There are fresh goods and dairy products, as well as ready-to-eat pre-packaged meals neatly arranged along counters. You’ll find farm-fresh eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables, along with other farm products, as well as ready-to eat salad or curries lard khao (‘with rice’), fruit drinks and Thai desserts.
The market at Regent House Building includes 20 vendors, most of whom are farmers who transport their produce from provinces around Bangkok.
The produce is grown naturally, without the use of chemicals. Visitors to the market should note that the content of ready-to-eat meals may be less strict in terms of chemical content, so check with each vendor if in any doubt. Networking opportunities
“Our weekly markets have become established as a meeting place between green producers and consumers with an interest in health and environmental issues, who are looking for green produce,” Wallapa says.
“We want them to meet directly, without the use of a middleman, so the producers can share their experiences regarding their mindful efforts in producing chemical-free products.”
She says that growing vegetables without using chemicals is a “wholehearted” story, and that people should take heed and learn about the producers’ good intent for other people and the environment.
Organic eggs produced at Saraburi’s Udomchai Farm are one of the distinguished products available at the markets. Farmer Sutathip Sangvatanakul says she travels to Regent House Building every week to sell her products. However, Sutathip says, she is not able to generate a clear profit from participating in the weekly market. However, she participates mainly to raise awareness of the market among city residents.
Besides, eggs are also a very fragile product so they can be tricky to transport and take home, Sutathip says.
While some people who visit the market simply browse when they reach the egg counter, Suthathip says she is always happy to explain to people how she raises her hens, which are grown domestically and without the use unnecessary chemicals and hormones.
“I’d like city folk to understand that there are choices when it comes to what they consume in their daily diet.”
Growing distribution network
As well as producers, the network also encourages like-minded people
interested in running a small business, such as a stall or store
selling solely organic produce. To help producers find sales channels,
the network includes owners of these outlets, and there are now 50
participating outlets in and around Bangkok. This number also includes
restaurants serving dishes prepared with organic ingredients.
There are also several restaurants and stores in major provinces
participating in the network, while more grocery stores across the
nation are beginning to provide space for organic products for health
conscious customers.
There are many well known green stores in Bangkok participating in the
network, including Health Me on Rajaburana Road, Poh Phak at Siriraj
Pier, Ton Phak Farm on Susawad Road and various Lemon Farm outlets.
Most green stores take the form of small stores in rather out of the
way locations within larger businesses or on the city’s street corners.
“Small is beautiful, as it means it’s easy to take care of as it
involves a sense of spirituality among buyers and sellers,” Suthathip
says.
Many stores offer some form of membership services to regular
customers, such as providing updates by phone to inform them when fresh
products are in stock, as well as about new types of products or
information relating to delivery services.
But one of the most outstanding services available at present is
provided by the Phak Prasanjai Project, which aims to draw producers
and buyers closer together in order to share information and support
each other’s needs.
The project is aimed at encouraging residents of Suphan Buri’s Dan
Chang district to grow organic vegetables, while providing consumers in
Bangkok with fresh organically grown produce, delivered fresh to
consumers’ doorsteps.
Trust and value
Wallapa says that while the green produce available in stores and weekly markets are genuinely grown without the use of chemicals, some
products actually cannot be safely offered for sale without some
limited use of a chemical. However, the important thing is that the
contents of each product are displayed clearly, allowing each
individual customer to make their own decision as to whether or not to
purchase the goods.
Basically, edible products located on the green shelves do not contain
any chemical residues, preservatives and artificial flavors, while
hygienic products are not exposed to foam-enhanced chemicals,
artificial colors and odors, according to Wallapa.
Volunteer advisers
A network for organic farming relies on the input of knowledgeable and
experienced volunteers with bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or
even doctorates in agriculture, or a field related to the cultivation
of organic produce, who are able to provide members of the farming
network with useful advice.
The network also organizes a farm visits annually for consumers who wish to learn more about their organic products.
“Our members rely on one another’s sincerity,” says Wallapa, “This type of business runs by heart and ethnicity.”
Wallapa says that by supporting chemical-free goods, consumers can
encourage farmers to live and work in improved conditions, since a
chemical free production process can mean health benefits for the
farmer, his family and employees.
On the subject of the premium paid for organic products, Wallapa points out that it relates to consumer education.
“It’s important that consumers learn to think beyond their own
circumstances since chemical-free processes yield benefits at a global
level.” A glance at the oracle
The network’s plans are currently fairly fluid since it is a relatively
recent venture. However, it is aiming to focus on prolonging and
strengthening its existing projects, such as the weekly markets, as
well as organizing regular events and campaigns.
The group aims to organize meetings between experienced members and interested members of the public in order to encourage
growth in green businesses.
Wallapa says she hopes that one day the market for green products will be as accessible as the conventional market is today.
To learn more about the network, or find your nearest member store, visit the network’s website at http://www.thaigreenmarket.com (Thai-language only).
Biz Spotlight 
Biz Spotlight
Thailand offers plenty of business and investment opportunities. Whether you’re an entrepreneurial individual, a growing small- and medium enterprise, or a cash-rich corporation looking to establish or expand your presence in the kingdom, Biz Spotlight provides up-to-date insights into the country’s business and financial sectors.
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