This Week In The Market – 18 May 2021

– Solar Undercover Parking Canopies update
– Market Advisory Committee Meetings – 1st & 2nd June
– Pre-employment and mobile drug testing

Market News

Construction Work Update

Construction for the undercover parking canopies is in full swing, and although you may not notice a lot of visible change to the area yet, when market trading finishes each morning, construction gets underway. The below video shows a time-lapse of a typical days construction. Drilling has commenced on upright support columns for the first canopy and will continue this week. We look forward to providing you with more timelapse video updates throughout construction.

Construction will continue to run from Tuesday 18 May – Monday 24 May, from 10 am – 7 pm each day, in the southern courtyard.

The noise of the works may cause disruptions for businesses working in the vicinity, particularly those in level 1 offices on the Buyers’ Walk. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding as we work to create a more efficient market facility for everyone.

Pre-employment and mobile drug testing reduce risks in your workplace

Pre-employment drug testing is basic due diligence when hiring. It provides a risk assessment of potential candidates and helps ensure the right people are operating your machines and vehicles. When combined with a policy discussion, it sets the tone for employment and details what are acceptable behaviours before the first day of work starts. TDDA offers the service in its accredited clinics and mobile testing facilities to stop risks before they enter your business.

Our 24/7 mobile testing service reduces downtime and disruption for your workforce. On-site drug and alcohol testing mean testing your employees without them needing to travel, and you get testing results more rapidly. TDDA’s mobile testing facilities can arrive with or without branding when discretion is required.

Drug and alcohol policies and testing protect your employees and your company. Implementing a fair and effective policy gives you the peace of mind to manage your business and know you’re meeting your legal requirements to mitigate risks in the workplace.

TDDA is located in the market administration building, but it is an independent company. We provide high-quality drug and alcohol testing, training and educations services to any businesses seeking to create safer workplaces. To learn more, visit us at TDDA.com or call Michael Pivac, General Manager for TDDA Tullamarine & Thomastown, on 0410 158 474.

Market Advisory Committee Meetings

The next market advisory committee meetings are running over the three days from the 31st May to 2nd of June. You can ask your advisory committee members to raise questions or ideas with the MMA.

31 May – Wholesalers advisory
1 June – Flower advisory
2 June – Retailers advisory and Growers advisory

Advisory committees work with the Melbourne Market Authority 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. 

You may have seen the visit to Signorelli’s North Balwyn, last week by the Victorian A Better Choice! team. For over 25 years, brothers Colin and Dean have offered an abundance of all our favourite fruit and veggies at their store. They strive to bring customers the finest produce of fruit and veg, gluten-free range, groceries and more.

As one of Victoria’s A Better Choice! retailers, they are taking part in the national Shop & Win competition. In April, one of their customers won the Philips Airfryer XXL and nominated Signorelli’s as their local fruit and veg shop! A new winner is announced each week so there is still time for more Victorian winners!

For more information on the competition, visit www.abetterchoice.com.au/shopandwin

M80 Ring Road – Sydney Road to Edgars Road Closure

The M80 Ring Road Altona-bound ramp will be closed each night between 10pm – 5am until late May. Refer to the detour map for recommended detours. You can find out more about upcoming road closures by clicking here

Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

The Market will be closed on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday, Monday 14th of June. 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

Have researchers picked a winner with a robotic apple harvester?

University researchers may have found the answer to Australia’s chronic shortage of seasonal fruit pickers by developing a robotic apple harvester. The robot clasps the apple in a set of suction-aided jaws twists the fruit to break the stem and then drops it into a basket.

During trials in February and March at Fankhauser Apples in Drouin, Victoria, the robot harvested more than 85 per cent of all reachable apples in the canopy as identified by its vision system. To find out more click here.

Bicolour sweet corn trials delivering tasty results

Sweet corn varieties being trialled in Queensland could be set to inject some colour into the market. Syngenta is behind trials of the Cabo and Sovereign varieties, both of which are bicolour and new to Australia.

Product development specialist for large-seeded vegetables and cucurbits Leith Plevey said the Australian sweet corn market is dominated by yellow varieties. To find out more details click here.

Melbourne Market Job Board

Essential for this position:

• Manual or heavy vehicle license.
• Good English reading and writing skills.
• Good knowledge of Fruit, Vegetables and Herbs.
• Working at a fast pace.

Please send resume to accounts@veginout.com.au

• Early starts
• Must have a manual license

If you’re interested please call Domenic on 0412 325 379

Ask the MMA

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