Flower Market Circular – edition 87 – 2 July 2018

• Danny Maliku answers the our questions in the new spotlight ‘The Fresh Five’ 
• July is the month of the tulip
• How will the ‘Meghan’ factor change bridal trends?

Seeking a new advisory committee member

We currently have a vacant position on the Flower Industry Advisory Committee. Advisory committees work with the MMA to advise on matters relating to Market operations and the flower industry. The group meets every quarter, so only four meetings per year. If you are interested in joining the advisory committee please contact David Whitchelo on 0419 555 894 or david.whitchelo@melbournemarket.com.au

Birthday in July? Give some tulips

Flowers are always a wonderful birthday gift for someone you care about whether a relative, friend or sweetheart. Did you know each month of the year has a particular flower associated with it?
July is the month of the tulip.
If you are looking to feature tulips in store this month you won’t find a larger variety of colours, at the most competitive prices, that at the Melbourne Flower Market.
For everything you need to know about tulips, from their history to tips on picking the best bunch, visit the Market Fresh website.

Fruit and Vegetable Market trading hours under review

The MMA is undertaking a consultation exercise to determine if there is sufficient support across all sectors of the Market community to modify trading hours in the Fruit and Vegetable Market.
As part of the consultation process advisory committee meetings have been held, and a survey has been distributed to all fruit and vegetable business principals. Any changes to trading hours will only effect the Fruit and Vegetable Market, there will be no change to Flower Market trading hours.
Should a change to Fruit and Vegetable Market trading hours be warranted, there would be an initial 90-day trial period to test the success of new hours which would likely commence during August 2018.
Please contact the MMA if you have any queries.

Fresh Five

This week we talk to Danny Maliku
1. Your role at the Melbourne Market: I’m a flower grower and standholder at Five Ways Flowers.
2. If you could only take three fruits or vegetables with you to a desert island, which would you take: My tastes are not very exotic, this is probaably a bit boring but I’d take Oranges, Apples and a Banana, like I said, not very exotic…
3. When was the last time you bought flowers for someone: My cousin’s wife had a baby boy a few weeks ago, I took flowers to the hospital.
4. Tell us something that is on your ‘bucket list’: Travel the world, but in particular I’d love to travel through Europe.
5. What do you most enjoy about working at the Melbourne Market: I’ve been doing it all my life, it’s my passion, it’s all I know.

Royals to set future wedding floral trends

In May the eyes of the world were on Meghan Markle when she married Prince Harry, and like royal brides before her, Meghan’s choices are sure to set trends in the coming years, including wedding bouquets and floral arrangements.
Small simple wedding bouquets with sentimental value are tipped to be the next big thing.
Meghan’s bouquet consisted of sweet peas, lily of the valley, jasmine, astrantia, astilbe, sprigs of myrtle (a royal tradition representative of luck in love), and forget-me-nots (a favorite of the late Princess Diana).
In what is tipped to be an emerging trend, Prince Harry personally picked several flowers himself to include in the bouquet. Florists may see grooms having much more input into floral choices over the coming years to add sentimental value to bouquets.
Another emerging trend predicted for floral arrangements is a move toward flowers framing existing architecture rather than being pieces set into a room, think flowers assembled in archways and around doorways, as a beautiful frame for photos and entrances.
With around 60 stand holders, occupying 140 stands, the Melbourne Flower Market in Epping has the largest range of flowers in Victoria. So when your next ‘bridezilla’ insists on replicating a royal bouquet, the Melbourne Flower Market should be your first stop.

Ask the MMA

If you’ve got a question or suggestion for the MMA email it to submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.