This Week in the Market – 1st September 2020
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| In this week’s Market News: – Market celebrates 5 years at Epping – Fun fruity socks you’ll have to have (and all for a good cause) – Welcome new A Better Choice National Program Manager Market News Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) information As we continue to work through Stage 4 restrictions, make sure you are doing the right thing; regularly wash and sanitise your hands, maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others wherever possible and always wear your face covering. Detailed information regarding the impacts of COVID on Market operations can be found on our website at www.melbournemarket.com.au/melbourne-market-coronavirus-covid-19-response/. Melbourne Market celebrates 5 years at Epping On 31 August 2015, the Melbourne Market began trading for the first time at Epping. This year, we haven’t been able to celebrate the milestone as we would have liked to, due to COVID restrictions. Yesterday a short video was released to commemorate the occasion, reflecting on the past, and looking at what the future holds next for the Melbourne Market. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge our 40-years of service, gold card inductees, from the previous 12 months; and they are featured in the video. Yesterday Market users also got to enjoy a little Stevie Wonder across the PA system as we played “Happy Birthday”. Thank you to everyone who makes the Melbourne Market the great place that it is. Fun fruity socks you’ll have to have (and all for a good cause!)  All Aussie Farmers are taking part in a great fundraiser to support Celebrate T21I and it’s just in time for Father’s Day! The team are selling fun fruit socks in a variety of patterns for $10 per pair from their store at tenancy 88. With bright fruit patterns, the socks are a great accessory for anyone working in the fruit and veg industry, and with Father’s Day this Sunday, it’s a great gift for Dad while supporting a worthy cause. Celebrate T21 is a charity that supports families with a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome (also known as Trisomy 21 or T21). The charity works closely with families to educate, empower and advocate for their choices, by supporting and celebrating their child with Down syndrome. As part of the fundraiser, the team are competing against other families to raise the most money on behalf of Jack’s daughter Heidi (pictured below). If they raise the most money, it will see Heidi featured on the front page of the upcoming Celebrate T21 book project. You can donate additional funds to add to Heidi’s fundraising tally and help her secure first spot in the book, by jumping on the Celebrate T21 website.  Certificate III in Greengrocery revamped!  Melbourne Polytechnic’s Certificate III in Greengrocery has been updated to allow for a large proportion of the content to be delivered via online learning. There will still be some face-to-face interaction, with structured support from your teacher every fortnight, and some in-store education sessions throughout the course duration. There is a range of funding options available for individual students, as well as funding options for businesses to support their staff to undertake the course. The next course intake will begin soon, so don’t delay. If you would like to find out more, email greengrocery@melbournemarket.com.au. Tell me more about the Certificate III in Greengrocery  New A Better Choice National Program Manager  The Melbourne Market welcomes James Patrick as the new National Program Manager for the A Better Choice Program. The role was previously based in Brisbane; however, James will be based in Melbourne in a new A Better Choice office, located on level 1 of the Buyers’ Walk. Educated at RMIT University, James is an experienced professional with a track record of achievement across various management positions and industries. James will work nationally to execute the A Better Choice brand and influence consumer behaviour to drive traffic into member stores across the country. Digital channels will remain the major focus of A Better Choice, and James will set a strategic vision for the brand each year. Be sure to welcome James when you see him in the Market. 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. Are you eligible for your gold card?As part of our 5th Birthday celebration video, the MMA acknowledged our 40 year gold card inductees from the previous 12 months. When you become a 40-year member, you receive a gold access card, which has no fee applied, as well as a commemorative framed certificate. If you have been working in the Market or fresh produce industry for over 40 years and have not yet received your gold card, download and complete the 40-year service award form. Team Vietnam go head-to-head tonight!  The Melbourne Market’s very own, Thanh Truong from Aus Asia Produce, is currently starring in Channel 7’s new cooking reality show, Plate of Origin. It was great to see Thanh tasting some of the other contestant’s dishes on both Sunday and Monday night, but word on the street is, Team Vietnam will be cooking on tonight’s episode! Make sure to tune in so you can cheer on Thanh and Team Vietnam! Upcoming Advisory Committee Meetings The next advisory meetings are scheduled for September, and while the format of the meetings may be a little different, with the need to use technology to adhere to social distancing guidelines, they will still go ahead. Speaking to your advisory committee members is an effective way you can raise key issues with the MMA. To find out who your advisory committee members are, click here, and talk to them about the Market issues that affect you before the next meetings in mid-September. Mediterranean Fruit Fly Outbreak  Agriculture Victoria is asking for monitoring to occur around the presence of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (MFF), after outbreaks were declared in areas of South Australia in May 2020. MFF is a significant horticultural pest that attacks a wide range of fruits and fruiting vegetables, decreasing production and making fruit inedible. Host fruits sourced from, grown or packed in, or travelling through an MFF outbreak area, including transfer via the Pooraka Market, are prohibited entry into Victoria unless treated and certified via Plant Health Certificate, Plant Health Assurance Certificate or Permit issued by Agriculture Victoria. If you suspect an MFF infestation or for more information, please refer to Moving Plants and Plant Products on the Agriculture Victoria website, call Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or email market.access@agriculture.vic.gov.au. Industry News”Big enough and ugly enough” supermarkets to face fresh produce inquiry. Supermarkets could be forced into a mandatory code of conduct for all fresh farm produce under a federal push to stamp out market imbalance. The competition watchdog has been directed to investigate beef, lamb, pork, chicken, egg, seafood, fruit and vegetable supply chains. Click here to read more on the Good Fruit and Vegetable 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 new online job board. Jobs will be posted in the weekly newsletter and on the Melbourne Market website. Forklift Operator / Truck driver – RLD Produce Duties include: Transport produce from farm in Coldstream to Market. Unload and distribute produce to customers. The right person would need to be able to work alone and alongside the grower in the market. An understanding of the wholesale market would be favourable. Must be competent in using and hold current forklift licence and truck licence. Start time from farm: 1am. Weekend work also available. Please forward resume and any enquiries to: rl.d2@bigpond.com.au  Happy ‘Lockdown’ Father’s Day for this Sunday to all the Melbourne Market Dads, Step Dads and Grandads. Here’s hoping you get to celebrate with your families, whether in-person or online. Enjoy your day! Ask the MMA If you’ve got a question for the MMA email it to: submissions@melbournemarket.com.au. Follow us  |