This Week in the Market – 28 March 2023

– Easter Trading Hours
– Children in the Market
– Footy Tipping Prizes Announced

Market News

Children in the Market event

Children in the Market is back over the Easter school holidays, on Tuesday, 18 and Wednesday, 19 April.

Children must be pre-registered before the event and accompanied by their parent or guardian. Please complete the registration form here, print it, and return it to Customer Service.

*Please note: All submitted forms will be automatically approved unless you are notified otherwise.

The foundation was set up to honour Pat’s life by helping young Australians make wise decisions in hopes of eliminating the Coward’s Punch through education.

The money will help the foundation expand its Be Wise education program into all states of Australia.

A dedicated fundraiser page has been set up at www.ride2bewise.com.au so you can join Grant and Rick on this epic journey through a “virtual ride”.

You can also get involved during the Children in the Market event by visiting the Pat Cronin smoothie bike stand in front of Customer Service and donating via the donation tins while you jump on the bike and blend your favourite smoothie through pedal-power!

MMA Board and Management Team visit

Earlier this month, the MMA Board and Management Team visited fresh produce businesses in Northern Victoria, known as “the heart of Australia’s food bowl”.

These visits are part of our commitment to continue understanding the needs of our customer base, the industry’s challenges, and to seek out opportunities to add value for our market users.

We visited several horticulture businesses, including Costa, Flavorite and Jeftomson and met with local government representatives from the City of Greater Shepparton, including the Mayor, Councillors and Economic Development team.

The trip provided valuable insights into each business’s operations, facilities, and opportunities for future growth.
We thank everyone we met for their warm welcome and for sharing their knowledge and insights.

If your business is interested in hosting the MMA Board and Management Team for a tour, please email submissions@melbournemarket.com.au.

Advisory Committee meetings held last week

Last Tuesday the Wholesalers, Growers, Retailers and Flower Advisory Committees met with the MMA to provide advice and discuss matters relating to Market operations and the fresh produce industry.

Key themes discussed by the groups included Stronger Together – the cultural change program, results of the Market Satisfaction Survey and Market hours.

Speaking to your advisory committee members is an effective way to raise key issues with the MMA.

For a full list of Advisory Committee members and to view minutes from previous meetings, visit the MMA website.

Shop and win is back!

The annual Shop and Win! consumer campaign is back this Autumn, with $19,000 worth of prizes up for grabs in participating fruit and veg shops, including Apple Airpods, Fitbit Versa 4, Nintendo Switch Console Lite, Breville Coffee Machines and more.

Along with this campaign, the illustrious “Retailer of the Year, Peoples Choice Award” will be awarded to the store with the most customer nominations.

Zac is currently rolling out the campaign to all A better choice! members. Contact Zac to learn more about the campaign or be one of the first stores activated

Win a $500 Gold Class Voucher

The A better choice! program has been working hard to deliver campaigns that help encourage consumers to shop at their local fruit and veg shop.

We would love to hear your feedback on our most recent campaign. By filling out this short survey and sharing your thoughts, you’ll go in the draw to win a $500 gold class voucher for your store.

Your feedback helps us shape and continually improve the program moving forward.

Visit the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show this week!

The National Flower Centre is excited to be part of this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) and will showcase our local growers’ stunning range of flowers. We will support the industry by hosting two retail flower stands in the Royal Exhibition Building and at the Victoria Street entry/exit and allow visitors to buy a bunch of fresh blooms to enjoy at home.

The MIFGS will be held at the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens this Wednesday, 29 March, to Sunday, 2 April.

Be sure to book your tickets and visit the National Flower Centre stands and show your support!

Melbourne Market Footy Tipping Competition

There is still time to join the Melbourne Market tipping competition. You’ll get the away teams for rounds one and two, so you still have the chance to win part of the $1500 prize pool!

For ease of use and to complete your tips on the go, download the ESPN Footy Tips app on Apple or Android.

Industry News

Hort Innovation invests in new citrus varieties

Hort innovation has announced it will invest nearly A$1m to assess new citrus varieties that are suited to Australian growing conditions.

Funded by Hort Innovation’s citrus levy, the A$987,000 project will provide independent assessment of the horticultural performance of new citrus varieties under Australian conditions.

Click here to read more.

Hort Innovation to breed strawberries suited for automated picking

Strawberries specially bred for automated picking will soon become a reality in Australia after the launch of an initiative to develop varieties that can be easily harvested by robot.

Recent data shows the horticulture workforce has decreased by 20 per cent over the past three years, which has resulted in 40 per cent of Australian growers adopting advanced machinery.

Click here to read more.

Melbourne Market Job Board and Community Notices

Ask the MMA

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