Abstract: Freshness is a core symbol of quality and the paramount criterion for ingredient selection in Chinese food culture; its connotation is not a fixed concept, but has developed into diverse and dynamic practical meanings against the backdrop of the evolution of modern and contemporary food technologies, the innovation of distribution systems, and the transformation of market practices. Taking wet markets in China as the core research setting, this paper investigates the notion of freshness within the historical and practical context of the development of the modern food industry. The study reveals that Chinese consumers’ perceptions and practices of freshness do not align with the standardized “technological freshness” defined by the modern food industry; instead, they converge into a profound and enduring pursuit of immediacy, locality, and wildness. Freshness in Chinese wet markets is not only a continuation of the local dietary perceptual framework and cultural traditions, but also multiple ontologies that is constantly shaped and reshaped amid the continuous advancement of cold-chain and preservation technologies, artificial breeding, and cross-regional circulation technologies. It thus serves as a pivotal nexus connecting local culture, natural ecology, and social relations.

Key Words: Freshness; Wet markets; Local food; Wildness; Food culture

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https://jdn.ucas.ac.cn/public/uploads/files/6a718f98ed8d6.pdf