Flower Market Circular – 28 February 2023

– Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
– International Women’s Day
– Cool Room Cleaning

Market News

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) is on from Wednesday, 29 March, to Sunday, 2 April, at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens.

We are pleased to announce the National Flower Centre (NFC) will host two market stands at the event:

• Location One: Royal Exhibition building
• Location Two: Entry / Exit to Victoria Parade

The market stands will showcase the beauty of locally grown florals. If you would like to feature your business to thousands of people, please get in touch with Theresa on 9258 6191 to arrange a supply of fresh flowers for the event.

Additionally, growers, wholesalers and florists have the opportunity to feature on the main stage in the Flower Hall representing the National Flower Centre in a range of activities:

• Growers Panel – Q&A
• Mystery Box Challenge – Grower nominates what flowers to use, and a florist transforms them into something spectacular
• Recycling/Sustainability
• Open to suggestions

Please email us if you want to join us on the main stage by participating in the Growers Panel or a Mystery Box Challenge.

Exhibitors showcasing displays at the MIFGS will be given complimentary access to the NFC to buy flowers needed to create their masterpieces. The MMA will also provide free delivery of flowers purchased on Saturday, 25 and Tuesday, 28 March, allowing exhibitors to get their flowers to the Royal Exhibition Building.

Let florists know what you stock for the MIFGS

The MMA is keen to promote the National Flower Centre and connect visitors with standholders and growers. So we can direct enquiries to the right businesses, please complete this form by ticking every variety you grow, stock and import and email it to Theresa.

Get involved with the Window Display Competition at the MIFGS

Want to show your creative flair at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show? Enter the Shop Window Floral Design Competition and have the chance to win a highly prestigious award and $2,500!

ONLY ONE SPOT LEFT!

The theme is “A Moment in Time” and a minimum of 60 per cent horticultural materials must be used in a 2.5m x 2m “Shop Window” with white walls.

Contact Lauren to secure the final position and find out more information.

International Women’s Day

We look forward to celebrating International Women’s Day in the Market next Wednesday, 8 March.

As part of the day, we’d love to acknowledge and celebrate as many Melbourne Market women as possible.

Send a shoutout to the women you work with by submitting a few words about why they are great and what makes them as asset to our work environment by emailing submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.

Let’s fill the Market TV screens with positive messages about the women who help make our industry so great!

Annual Access Card Renewal

All businesses should log onto their My MMA Portal account and select any access cards they would like to deactivate to avoid unnecessary charges. A short video explaining how simple it is to complete this process via the customer portal can be viewed below.

The My MMA Portal has been thoughtfully designed to provide your business with a single digital platform to view your business account details and manage interactions with the MMA at your own convenience.

If your business is yet to set up a My MMA Portal account, contact the MMA via info@melbournemarket.com.au to nominate a business representative and read and sign the terms or use.

Cool Room Cleaning

Over two days, Quayclean will utilise a boom lift to clean the top of each tenant’s cool room.

To ensure cleaners have access for the boom lift, please ensure all stock and equipment are removed from all cool rooms on the following days:

• Wednesday, 1 March – from 10am until 5pm
• Thursday, 2 March – from 11am until 5pm.

Valentine’s Day

Did you catch the National Flower Centre on The Today Show for Valentine’s Day?

50 roses were gifted to the public at popular locations throughout Melbourne, showcasing the NFC and locally grown Zani roses.

Storage of goods in EFS bays

To keep our Market clean and operating as it was designed, there are some important rules regarding what you can and cannot store in EFS 1, 2 and 3 Bays:

• Forklifts
• Electric vehicles
• Sales Counters (must be stored on Forklift tines)
• Maximum of two (2) pallets (must be stored on Forklift tines)

• Produce
• Rubbish
• More than 2 pallets
• Boxes
• Growers Bins
• Other market related machinery/items

Toilet Block Cleaning

To keep the market and our facilities clean and hygienic, toilet blocks are regularly cleaned throughout trade. When cleaning is being conducted in the toilet blocks, and ‘Cleaning in Progress’ signs are in place, you must not enter.

This is for the safety and privacy of both the cleaners and market users.
If you visit a toilet that is being cleaned please wait until the cleaner has completed their job and removed the ‘cleaning in progress’ signs or use other nearby facilities.

Lunar New Year Celebrations

What a fantastic morning of celebrations with the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne last month!

The Market was humming with drums, percussions, dancing and blessings. Check out the video below for highlights of the morning, including some great lettuce catches and a mango near-miss!

Jobs Victoria Business Support

Are you looking for staff? Jobs Victoria offers free recruitment support to connect businesses and employers with new staff. Your business can post vacancies on the online hub or access Tools and Resources on workforce planning, employing staff and hiring options.

Local recruitment providers can be found at Recruitment support in your local area | Jobs Victoria.  If you require assistance locating a local recruitment provider, please email simon.scrase@whittlesea.vic.gov.au at the City of Whittlesea.

Melbourne Market Job Board

Ask the MMA

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