Zeloni Bazar , the Green Market

It seems that every Central Asian and Middle Eastern country has a green market.

Almaty also has its well known Green Market (Zeloni Bazaar) close to Panfilov park.
It is even on the top 19 things to do in Almaty according to TripAdvisor.

Parts of the bazaar is covered while other parts are out in the open.While the stalls outside seem to be more reasonably priced (seen below)

At the Zeloni Bazaar you will find almost everything, from hardware stalls, home appliances, clothing and of course food items (a very popular place for fruit, vegetables and nuts). I personally am just a little wary of the meat here and prefer to buy that at the supermarket, where hopefully they practice more hygienic practices and don't break the cold chain.

Many locals do all their shopping at the Green Market. It is advisable to buy fresh fruit and vegetables here, because the turn over is so high.  I am, however, wary of stalls that don't display prices. Even some of my locals friends feel that they have been ripped off on some occasions. You will find a lot of stalls sell the same items, and  I have noticed that the locals prefer to go to stalls that have other customers as well ... maybe they all know that the service is better at that particular stall compared to the other much quieter stalls.

I must confess I still struggle with the concept of paying more for an item just because I am foreign.

The only real problem I have with the Bazaar is that it is focused on selling larger quantities. Some of the stalls that have the nicest produce don't want to sell anything less than 2kgs.
Another thing is that fresh produce just does not last long - where every you buy it in Almaty. The only reasonable explain for this is that  fresh produce takes a long time to get to the end consumer. I have bought potatoes that looked perfect the one day and was soggy the next day.

If you haven't been to the Green Bazaar, you must go as it is very much apart of living in Almaty, and you will find lots of friendly and helpful people here, even though there might be a language barrier.
Granted it is not as magical as those found in Turkey or Tehran, but it is an experience.

Tips when going to the Green Bazaar

• Dress comfortably 
• Carry smaller notes as most vendors do not have a lot of change
• A grocery trolley is great for all your purchases...you can even buy the trolley at the Bazaar's hardware section. 
• Try to bargain if you can
• Walk around first to get an idea of the going price for a particular product.
• And try some of the freshly baked goods : ) 

Good luck with your shopping at the Zeloni Bazaar and enjoy this lively part of city life in Almaty!