This Week in the Market – 15 February 2022
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| In this week’s Market News: – Vaccination Hub to reopen at the Melbourne Market – Vaccination for Food Distribution Workers – Access Card Renewal Reminder Market News Vaccination Hub to reopen at the Melbourne Market  One of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from severe illness from COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated, including your third booster dose. The MMA has been working since late last year to bring a vaccination hub back onsite to administer booster doses, and while unfortunately Austin Health has been deployed to other higher needs areas and can not attend, we have now been able to secure another allied health provider to set up a vaccination clinic at the market. CHM (Corporate Health Management) is fully funded by the Commonwealth Government to administer COVID-19 Vaccinations in workplaces and worksites like the Melbourne Market. They will be set up from Tuesday 22nd February to begin administering vaccines for just under three weeks, helping protect our market community and the supply chain. Vaccination hub details When: Tuesday 22nd February to Friday 11th March, 5 am – 12 pm, each weekday. Where: Level 1 Buyers’ Walk, above tenancy 77 Vaccine available: The Pfizer vaccine will be available for third doses, as well as for any person yet to receive their first or second dose. How to book: The MMA will send a link to a dedicated Melbourne Market vaccination booking system in the coming days, allowing market users to plan their workday around vaccination. You will also begin to see QR code posters around the market that when scanned will link to the booking system. Several walk-in appointments will also be available each day. You will need to bring your medicare card and a form of photo ID with you. Vaccination for Food Distribution Workers Under new pandemic orders, workers in key sectors who are already required to be fully vaccinated must get their third vaccine dose before being permitted to work onsite; this includes workers in food distribution at the Melbourne Market. The Victorian Government last week announced the 12 February 2022 deadline for workers in key sectors to have received their COVID-19 third dose vaccination will be extended by four weeks. Food distribution workers eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine by 12 January 2022, will be required to receive a COVID-19 third dose vaccine by 12 March 2022 following a four-week extension. Workers in key sectors who were not eligible to receive an additional COVID-19 vaccine by 12 January 2022 will be required to receive their COVID-19 third dose vaccine by 29 March 2022.Business principals must confirm workers have received their third dose and keep a record of workers’ third dose vaccination status, in line with the Pandemic Order issued. Annual Access Card Renewal Reminder All Melbourne Market access cards have a common expiry date of 30 April each year. With the launch of the My MMA Portal, this process of removing unwanted access cards is now available to complete online with a simple click of a button, reducing unnecessary form filling. Before Monday 21 February, businesses should log onto their My MMA Portal and select any access cards they would like to de-activate from their business account to avoid unnecessary charges. Business Principals would have received an email outlining this process in more detail last week. For further guidance on how to deactivate Access Cards using the My MMA Portal, watch the video below. If you haven’t set up your business’s My MMA Portal account, contact Amanda Flannery at aflannery@melbournemarket.com.au or 0428 910 182 to nominate a business representative and confirm business details.  THINK SAFETY STICK TO THE MARKED WALKWAYS When walking, where available use a Pedestrian Walkway in all areas of Market Land where it is reasonably practical to do so.  New Member Alert – Tom’s Marketplace Welcome to Tom Nguyen from Tom’s Marketplace in Armstrong Creek who has recently come on board as an A better choice! member. Tom has worked in the fruit and veg industry for over 10 years and has now taken his passion to his new store “Tom’s Marketplace”. Tom prides himself on stocking premium quality fresh produce that is available at the Melbourne Market, as well as gourmet dairy, meat and pantry lines. Welcome, Tom!    Store Visits The A better choice! team have been busy out on the road the last few weeks getting to as many stores as possible, meeting members and getting to understand their needs as greengrocers and A better choice! members. Ali and Wiem from Harmony Market, Surrey Hills   The El Ahmour family, Fruit Haven, Balwyn A better choice! related please reach out to Zac Egan. C The Market Tours Resume  Jan Clare with C the Market tours will be recommencing her tours from Monday 14 February. Jan will be allowed 16 people on her tours including herself as the tour guide. Tour guests will continue to follow COVID safety measures such as registering at Gate 1, mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing where possible. We are very excited to welcome Jan and her guests back into the Market! Industry News Some positive figures for Australian fruit and vegetable exports amid pandemic challenges  In a year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was some positive export value growth at state level for Australian fruits and vegetables, with figures rising in at least two states. The Queensland Government Statistician’s Office reported that fruits and vegetables were up 24.5 per cent (AU$185m) to $939.2million for the 2021 calendar year, while Tasmanian fruit and vegetable exports were up by 15.3 per cent ($12m) to $90million, according to the Tasmanian Government’s Economic Policy Branch. Click here to find out more. New horticulture training and upskilling program set to be launched to industry After 18 months of living through the challenges of COVID-19 and experiencing the issues created by horticulture labour shortages first-hand, a fresh produce wholesaler and retailer have teamed up to create a new business and training program. David Zahlan, Director of Alexanders’ Fruit Market and his close friend Thomas Panna from Mattina Fresh are preparing to launch National Farming Education Australia, and its farming skills endorsement, known as the Green Card to the rest of the industry, ensuring workers are fully trained in foundational farm procedures and processes before they arrive on the farm, which will ultimately provide better productivity to farmers. Click here to find out more. New fruit packhouse to create much needed jobs for Victoria’s food bowl Major progress is being made on the construction of an export-standard fruit packing factory in Mooroopna thanks to an Andrews Labor Government grant. The project is being delivered thanks to a grant from the Labor Government’s $20 million Food Source Victoria program, which aims to boost exports, build industry capabilities and generate jobs in regional Victoria by encouraging food producers and supply chains to collaborate. Click here to find out more. 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 Scicluna’s is hiring! Come and join one of Melbourne’s most respected and growing food merchants and work for a company that cares about its people! We now have vacancies for a variety of roles in our Wholesale and Retail divisions. For more information or to apply, please visit our new look website! www.sciclunas.com.au/careers LaManna Premier Group We are seeking a capable, enthusiastic and skilled Accounts Receivable Coordinator to join our team at the Melbourne Market in Epping! If you’re keen to explore this fresh opportunity, send your resume to careers@lpgroup.com.au. Ask the MMA If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au. Follow us  |
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