This Week In The Market – 16 April 2019

– Produce guides are here
– Meet your advisory committee members
– Easter and Anzac Day trading

Market News

Produce guides are here!

Brand new produce guides have arrived, and they will soon be making their way into A Better Choicestores.
There are three guides available, one for fruit, one for vegetable and the other for herb, which retailers can make available in-store for customers.
The guides provide easy to understand information about produce seasonality as well as storing tips and recipes.
A Better Choice members can either pick up their guides by heading into the customer service centre at the Market or please contact us if you would like Sam to deliver the guides to your store.

Still haven’t joined A Better Choice? With over 100 Victorian greengrocers on board, what are you waiting for?
Click the link below to book a personalised appointment and find out everything you need to know about the program.

Meet your advisory committee members

Over the coming weeks, we will be profiling each of our advisory committee members for you to get to know a little more about them.
This week we spoke to Grant Nichol, a long-time member of the wholesaler’s advisory committee.
Your role at the Market:
I’m a director at Flavorite Marketing managing the Market operations of the business. My father and uncle started as wholesalers in Queen Vic Market, and we relocated to Footscray Rd the very same week I was born.
What do you think are important issues for the industry and Market itself?
The sustainability of the Market is important to all of us and it’s a matter of having a balance. Without independent retailers, none of us has a job; without ensuring the sustainability of the growers, none of us has a job; it’s about co-existing and working together for the good of the whole industry.
What are you positive about for the future? 
I’m a big fan of A Better Choice; I think as an industry we all need to have some buy-in to make sure that our retailers survive and can compete with the major chain stores.  There is a lot of potential for the program through greater advertising and promotion of independents to the consumers. I genuinely hope it’s a success and I think it’s great that the MMA and Fresh State are investing together to make it work.
What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m a keen skydiver – I was a world champion in 1998 and I’ve been involved in five of the last six world records for large formation skydiving. I’m heading over to California in May to complete an Australian record. In total, I’ve completed about 5,500 jumps.

Advisory committees work with the MMA to advise on matters relating to Market operations and the fresh produce industry and committee members are a great source of information and advice for Market users. To find out who all the members of the advisory committees are, please visit the MMA website.

Full site emergency evacuation drill

On Wednesday 1 May at 11:00 am, we will be conducting a full site emergency evacuation drill.
The drill will evacuate all tenants on Market land, including all administration building tenants, Buyers’ walk tenants, warehouse tenants, visitors, and subcontractors on site.
Upon hearing the site evacuation tones, everyone will need to follow site evacuation procedures and follow the directions of Market Relations Officers.
The drill should take approximately 20 minutes.
We look forward to your participation.

Easter and Anzac Day trading hours

The Market will be closed on public holidays during the Easter and Anzac Day period as follows:

Thursday 18 April – regular trading hours
Friday 19 April, Good Friday – market closed
Saturday 20 April, Easter Saturday – Flower Market to remain open
Monday 22 April, Easter Monday – market closed
Tuesday 23 April – regular trading hours
Wednesday 24 April – regular trading hours
Thursday 25 April, Anzac Day – market closed
Friday 26 April – regular trading hours

If your parking permit only allows access on a day that falls on one of the public holidays, and you would like to come to the Market on an alternative adjacent day, you will not be charged for parking and can enter the Market. However please note, your regular bay may not be available. Please see a Market Relations Officer on arrival for instruction.

Industry News

Research aims to extend shelf life for raspberries

Raspberries are one of the world’s most fragile fruits – hollow, soft and small – all round, pretty delicate.
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture PhD Candidate, Ky Nha Huynh, is helping solve two interlinked problems for the Tasmanian berry industry: packaging and shelf life.
Read more on the Good Fruits and Vegetables website

Key Dates

Friday 19 April – Good Friday
Saturday 20 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 21 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 22 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day

Ask the MMA

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