This Week in the Market – 10 January 2023

– Lunar New Year Blessings
– Australia Day
– There is still time to donate to flood-affected growers

Market News

Welcome to 2023!

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the first newsletter of 2023!

This year we’re looking forward to a great lineup of Market events to connect us as a community, as well as rolling out some new initiatives to continue to create a safe and inclusive market environment for all.

Keep an eye out for updates on the programs that help market businesses succeed, like A better choice!, as well as news on the developments and investments that make the Melbourne Market a great place to do business.

We’re always keen to hear what individuals and businesses are up to and share it with our market community. Feel free to drop us a line and tell us your story at submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.

Here’s to a prosperous, safe and happy 2023!

Lunar New Year 2023

2023 is the year of the Rabbit, and to celebrate, the Market is welcoming back the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne to perform the traditional lion dance and blessings on Tuesday, 24 January 2023.

With only two weeks to go and to ensure every business that wishes to receive a blessing on the day is included in the schedule, please email the MMA at submissions@melbournemarket.com.au

Australia Day

Please join us for an ‘Aussie BBQ’ on Wednesday, 25 January, from 4am under the breezeway between the Flower Market and the Trading Floor.

Gourmet sausages will be on offer for everyone to enjoy, and we will be accepting any donations people wish to contribute towards our flood-affected growers fundraiser.

If your parking permit only allows access on a day that falls on a public holiday, 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, your regular bay may not be available. Please see a Market Relations Officer on arrival for instruction.

A better choice! Magazine success

The A better choice! magazine launched just in time to get into shoppers hands before Christmas. The response has been overwhelming, with consumers and retailers loving the magazine!

Celebrating all things fruit and veg, including recipes and stories about Aussie growers, this magazine will be free for shoppers to collect at their local fruit and veg shop.

For any questions about the magazine, or to be a part of the A better choice! program in 2023, please contact Zac.

Retailers and customers still have a chance to win in the Victorian Strawberries promotion!

Retail stores and their customers loved having the in-store tastings of Victorian Strawberries during December.

Customers can still enter the draw to win a luxury escape in the Yarra Valley and one of five $200 vouchers at a local A better choice! fruit and veg shop.

Retailers can still win!
By posting about this promotion on social media, retailers will also have the chance to win a $200 gourmet hamper for their store:

1. Take a photo or video including Victorian Strawberries
2. Post to the store’s Instagram or Facebook
3. Use the hashtag #ilovevicstrawberries and tag @vicstrawberries and @abetterchoiceaus

Click here for more information and terms and conditions.

You can still donate to the flood-affected growers fundraiser

What an amazing effort from the Market Community (with the help of Santa), so far raising $31,933 for flood-affected growers in regional Victoria.

Market Operations

Pallets and Produce
A reminder that pallets and produce being left out on hardstand areas are interfering with the Market cleaning program. Please ensure pallets and grower bins stock is kept within truck and loading bay zones at all times and produce is confined to bays and not extending into roadways so as not to impact business operations and traffic flow.

Toilet Doors
A reminder that entry doors to female toilet blocks should not be “chocked” open by market users at any stage. This is to ensure the safety and privacy of all market users.

We all love a free coffee!

It’s great to see market users, just like John behaving positively and safely in the Market. John received a voucher for handing in a lost item to Customer Service, well done!

The MMA hands out coffee vouchers for market users who display positive and safe behaviour within the market. Coffee vouchers can be received for many reasons, such as complying with market operating rules, including forklift and pedestrian safety, using positive and inclusive language, and many more.

Outsource packaging while supporting the local community

Brite has operated in Broadmeadows for over 40 years and employs over 150 people with disabilities. One of the main operating divisions Brite offers is Pak, a manufacturing, packaging and assembly, warehousing, and food packing business providing a range of services to many local and multi-national clients.

To find out more, you can get in touch with Agatha via email or phone on 9301 7300.

What to do if you find wildlife stowaways on site

You may have recently heard about the family of endangered Northern Quolls stowed away in a box of pumpkins on site.

If you come across wildlife in the Market, you can report it to the DELWP Conservation Regulator on 136 186.

Alternatively, you can email portphillip.cr@delwp.vic.gov.au directly with information about where you saw the animals.

Please make sure you also notify the MMA on 0438 513 894, so they can give access to the site upon the arrival of wildlife rangers.

Industry News

New How To Guide for Smart Farming

There are many reasons a vegetable grower might want to integrate smart farming technology into their farm.

Improving nutrient use efficiency can reduce leaching and lower the cost of fertiliser inputs. Monitoring soil moisture can improve water use efficiency. Labour costs can be reduced by automating data collection and using cameras to monitor crop growth and disease.

Click here to read more.

Melbourne Market Job Board and Community Notices

Guy’s Freight Service

We are hiring a full-time office administrator, Monday to Friday, starting at 6 am.

Click here to view the full job ad.

Please call Joy Guy for more information on 0406 992 907

Coolibah Herbs

We are currently hiring a night-shift, full-time Market Hand.

You must be available to work Sunday to Thursday between 7 pm -10 pm (start) and 5 am -7 am (finish time).

For the full job ad please click here.

Please see Brett and John from Coolibah Herbs for more information.

Ask the MMA

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