KOTA KINABALU: For less than RM10, a family of five can get their week’s supply of vegetables near the Cyber City residential area in Kepayan near here.
Simply known as the “Fruits and Vegetables Wholesale Market”, it is arguably the cheapest place to buy perishables from all over the state.
The main items sold here are lowland vegetables supplied from districts along the west coast and Keningau and highland vegetables from Kundasang in Ranau.
Depending on the season, vegetables such as spinach, bak choy, brinjal, bitter gourd, wild ferns and cucumber are sold at RM1 per kg but they come in 3kg packs. Highland vegetables such as cabbage, tendrils, tomatoes, broccoli and mushrooms are also sold in 3kg packs, priced between RM1 and RM7 per kg.
The market opens daily from 7am to 6pm.
Patrons are mostly from around here, nearby districts such as Penampang, Putatan and Papar but there are also those from Brunei and Sarawak who come to buy in bulk.
Vegetable seller Ferri Hendry, 25, said most of his customers were retailers who would make bulk purchases before reselling them at markets or restaurants.
A customer Samsiah Sirat, 43, drives about an hour from her home in Papar just to buy vegetables in bulk which she supplies to a home for the disabled.
“Each time, I buy six to seven types of vegetables,” said Samsiah who visits the market three times a week.
Another regular patron, Evelyn Paunil, 42, comes to the market once a week to buy about RM100 worth of vegetables which she resells them in her hometown of Kinarut.
She would unpack the 3kg bags before selling them at twice the wholesale price at the Kinarut market where she runs a stall.
“The profit is enough for me to feed my family and continue the small business. Whatever items that are not sold, I will take home and cook for my family,” she said.