Tartu has always been known as a city centered around its universities and students. Not only because it hosts one of the most ancient universities in Europe, but rather because most of its inhabitants are students, university employees, academics, or researchers (both national and international). This made “students’ life” and the facilities the city would offer one of the major concerns for those moving to Tartu.
As international students, we have various challenges when it comes to inaugurating life in a new country; culture, weather, safety, people, entertainment, job seeking, etc. However, living expenses occupy the first concern when you decide to move. We all wonder about one single question: how to have a quality life with the least possible expenses?
As alimentation is basic, one should be smart enough to get what one wants with the best quality and lowest price. Tartu has solved this dilemma by offering several wholesale markets all over the city. These markets offer on-site selling and naturally, as you are in Estonia “The Digital Country”, an online market is as well available.
What is a wholesale market?
This is a special type of open market where one can find all types of vegetables, fruits, groceries, and even meat, offered at relatively low prices, compared to normal supermarkets. However, the major concern lies in the quantity of food you are expected to buy. The price difference can only be felt when you go to buy large quantities.
My story with wholesale markets
As a student living in one of the university dorms, I didn’t have the luxury of having a large fridge or storage room that one can have in a private house. Moreover, being now a family composed of only one member, also means a low consumption rate. This directly made it clear to me that my only smart option would be heading to normal supermarkets, instead of buying large quantities of food that might go rotten or spoil in one way or another before even thinking of using them.
Frankly speaking, I felt this was fine, until I realized the amount of money one can save at wholesale markets!
“Wholesaling” is not only about goods
Thinking thoroughly; I figured out that the keyword to wholesale markets would be “more people”. This unveiled a secret advantage about “wholesaling”: “FRIENDS”.
Being in a dorm allows you to expand your social circle and pave the way for more and more friends. I started introducing the idea of going to the market to a bunch of dorm mates until we made a group of ten. We enjoyed our biweekly trip to the market, the fresh fruits and vegetables, the wide variety of groceries, and above all, saving money!
First “Wholesaling” Trip
This is a trip to remember; where I experienced visiting two closely located and related markets in Tartu, one was “Tartu Market Hall” or “Tartu Turg” while the other is “Tartu market”. The former is an indoor market located in the center of Tartu, with a characteristic pig statue that welcomes visitors. Once I stepped in, I was surprised by the colorful scenery of the vast selection of fresh food, vegetables, and fruits, together with the unique scent of mixed spices and the smiles of traders, who are Estonian farmers or common traders from southern Estonia. Everyone welcomed you and presented their goods. Variety was massive and prices were competitive. Furthermore, and to my surprise, some vendors with international cuisines were encouraging visitors to try free food samples. In addition, there are various cafés where you can take some rest and enjoy your time with friends and a cup of coffee.
Just alongside “River Emajõgi”, was the open-air version of the Market. At first, I thought it would be a similar experience to the indoor market, but it turned out that things were spiced up differently in Tartu Open Market. Besides fresh fish, meat, milk products, and pastries, there you can shop for basic household items, flowers, handicrafts, yarns, as well as clothing items. Children can also have fun in the candy store and the playground.
By the end of the day, I realized that the trip to the market that was to just buy food ended instead with a pile of cultural aspects about Estonian people and a bunch of good friends.
Last, but not least!
As prices are getting a bit higher, start to plan your wholesale list with your friends and enjoy a new experience of shopping with new people instead of going alone. You can even consider preparing common meals. Just google “wholesale markets in Tartu”, navigate through the website, pin the address, grab your friends, enjoy the money you are about to save, and use it to expand your FUN.
