This Week In The Market – 12 January 2021
| Edition 295 View this email in your browser |
 |
| In this week’s Market News: – Latest COVID information – Tenancy 105 – Expression of Interest – First intake of Cert III in Greengrocery about to start Market News Latest update on COIVD and impacts on Market Operations The COVID-19 situation in Australia is ever-evolving. The MMA will continue to regularly communicate to market users the most up to date information and how market operations are affected. As we begin the new year, we remind market users that the following rules and restrictions currently apply at the Melbourne Market. Face Masks Face masks must be worn indoors at all times at the Melbourne Market. Face masks are mandatory in all indoor locations, which includes on the trading floor, Buyers’ Walk, growers shed, flower market, stores, commercial tenancies, offices and in cafes (except when consuming food and drink). Face masks should also be worn outdoors in any situation where social distancing cannot be maintained. Social distancing The importance of adhering to social distancing rules is essential. You must remain at least 1.5 metres from other Market users wherever possible. You must refrain from handshaking, hugging, kissing hello or similar. You should think about how you can alter your daily tasks to minimise direct close contact with others around you. Commercial Freight Different states and cities throughout Australia can quickly become COVID ‘red zones’ or ‘hot zones’. Transport companies and commercial freight operators and drivers need to keep up to date with the Victorian government’s restrictions as they apply to movement across borders. Where a commercial freight operator (truck driver) entering the Melbourne Market has resided in, visited, been in, or travelled through a red zone or a hot zone;The individual must only leave the vehicle cabin to access toilet and bathroom facilities, to sign in to the site at Gate 1, or in an emergency situation.Where the individual leaves the vehicle cabin, they must wear a fitted face mask at all times. Penalties for non-compliance To help ensure the safety and business continuity of the Melbourne Market, MRO’s will continue to issue warnings and suspensions for those deliberately not following social distancing rules, or for those not wearing face masks. Detailed information regarding COVID operational changes at the Market can be found at www.melbournemarket.com.au/melbourne-market-coronavirus-covid-19-response/. Cancellation of upcoming events At the beginning of the year market users normally look forward to two celebrations in the market, the Australia Day BBQ and Chinese New Year performance and blessings. Both these events require people to interact near one another. Due to the inability to adequately social distance during these events and with the uncertainty of the impacts of COVID-19 over the coming weeks, regrettably, a decision has been made to cancel both events. We are looking forward to organising a market-wide event at an appropriate stage later in 2021 to thank the market community for their commitment to safety during COVID, and to acknowledge all the events we missed. Tenancy 105 – Expression of Interest  Moon Bean Cafe has been exploring alternate locations within the market to relocate their cafe. Should Moon Bean Cafe move to a new location within the market, tenancy 105 would become available on the highly sought-after Buyers’ Walk. In this scenario, the Melbourne Market has a vision for Tenancy 105 to be converted and to operate as a wholesale fruit and vegetable trading store and is now inviting expressions of interest in the space. You can download an information pack and complete your online expression of interest form now on the Melbourne Market website. New online form to apply for a trading stand A new online form has been developed to easily allow market tenants to express interest in new or additional Fruit and Vegetable Stand Licences at the Melbourne Market. As market users would know, most fruit and vegetable stands are currently occupied; however, they do become available over time. Whilst submitting the online expression of interest will not automatically sign you up to a stand licence, it will allow the Property Team to contact you when a potential stand allocation becomes available. Visit melbournemarkets.com.au/fruit-vegetable-stand-licence-application to complete your expression of interest.  New Weekly Produce report The A better choice! team have started putting together a weekly produce report, available on the website. You can share the report on your own social channels or perhaps use the content for inspiration if you create your own weekly produce report. Check out the latest weekly report by clicking here.  As well as the weekly produce reports, the A better choice! website has a range of articles and great content you can share with your own followers, like, “How To Adapt Recipes To Suit Dietary Needs” or “How to Ripen Fruit“. Click here to check out the articles for yourself. A Better Choice feedback Do you have feedback or questions about the A Better Choice program? We’d love to hear from you, send an email to abetterchoice@melbournemarket.com.au. First intake of Certificate III in Greengrocery about to start  The first intake of students into the Certificate III in Greengrocery starts on 19 January, and it’s not too late to enrol. Eligible businesses and employees can receive an incentive which will pay up to 50% of an employees wage up to $28,000 (until Oct 2021), plus, two scholarships are still up for grabs, making putting your employees through a recognised course so affordable. These incentives and scholarships are only available for a limited time, don’t miss out! Register on the website or click here to email us to determine if you’re eligible for funding. FareShare and Foodbank have begun accepting donations for 2021 Both Foodbank and Fareshare are back at the market after the Christmas break and are accepting donations at their respective drop-off points. Drop off points Foodbank: Behind store 148 Fareshare: Behind store 6 The MMA, along with Foodbank and Fareshare thank the market community for their continued generosity.  Industry News Digital Harvest – a training program to take your agri-food business online La Trobe University is inviting farmers, agri-producers, distributors and sellers to apply for Digital Harvest, a free online program designed to help adapt and grow, as a response to the events of 2020. Digital Harvest is part of a $1.5m e-Commerce and New Marketplace Transition Package announced by the Victorian Government, as part of an Agricultural Workforce Plan. This plan aims to support agriculturists to transition to new markets and new ways of doing business. Delivered fully online and at no cost to participants, the program will support a wide range of agricultural sectors, including farming, cropping, broadacre, farmgate, community growers and distributors. Over twelve weeks, participants will receive insights from experts in agribusiness development, sales, retail, eCommerce and digital marketing. They’ll gain access to toolkits and learn how new digital tools can help attract customers to grow into the future. Participants also gain access to a growing virtual library of expert-led resources on key topics including Digital Strategy, Analytics, Email Marketing, SEO & SEM, Social Media, Storytelling and more. The program starts week commencing Monday 1 February with registrations closing on Thursday 28 January 2021, 11:59pm. Click here to visit the La Trobe University website to learn more and to register. Crop losses add up Crop losses stemming from ongoing labour shortages across Australia have topped A$38m, according to reports lodged through the National Lost Crop Register. The register was launched in mid-December (2020) to capture the cost to industry and the Australian economy from a lack of seasonal workers available to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables. A total of 55 growers from five separate states and territories have anonymously reported their losses to date. A wide array of crops are represented on the register, including berries, tomatoes, carrots, citrus, bananas, pumpkins, chilli and leafy green vegetables. Read more on the Produce Plus website. High tech horticulture heading to urban areas  The horticulture industry is assessing the potential of high-technology production systems in Australia’s urban landscape. The high tech systems are claimed to have the potential to redefine horticulture by optimising yield, quality, and supply. Read more on the Good Fruit and Vegetables website. Melbourne Market Job Board  Do you have a vacancy to fill in your business? Email submissions@melbournemarket.com.au for the position to be placed on our online job board. Looking for a new role? Check out the online job board via the button below. View full online job board Ask the MMAIf you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au. Follow us  |
| Copyright © 2020 Melbourne Market Authority, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are on the Melbourne Market Authority distribution list. Our mailing address is: *Box 1, 55 Produce Drive, Epping, VIC, 3076* update subscription preferences |