This Week in the Market edition 178 – 8 May 2018

Market News

Gain Cert 2 or Cert 3 qualifications in Greengrocery

Have you heard Melbourne Polytechnic are running a great new training program for anyone who works in the greengrocery industry to gain formal qualifications?

Right now you could be eligible to get a Cert 2 or Cert 3 in Greengrocery and you could qualify for great government subsidies.  Even better you get to earn on the job, so both you and your employer get the benefits!

Drop into our information session at the Melbourne Market on Friday 18 May from 6:00am to 6:30am on Level 1 in the Buyers’ Walk above the Customer Service Centre to find out more.

Register your attendance at submissions@melbournemarket.com.au by Thursday 17 May.

Watch the video here and you can contact Fotina Babalis from Melbourne Polytechnic directly on 0403 605 332.

Free electrical equipment inspections

The MMA requires all electrical equipment used within the common areas of the trading floor to be regularly inspected, tested and tagged by an authorised person.

The MMA will be providing this service for FREE for all Market store and stand holders on Wednesday 16 May post trade.

The authorised person will inspect all electrical items left in common areas of the trading floor building including any items left out the front of store tenancies or on trading stands.

If you don’t want to leave your items out, ElectroSafe will be set up from 7:00am to 8:00am outside the rear of the Customer Service Office to test electrical items.

Examples of electrical equipment for testing and tagging include EFTPOS and cash registers, laptops, extension leads, electric vehicle charges, phone charges, other electrical items used within stand and licensed areas such as radios or heaters.

What happens if my item fails the electrical test?

Any equipment that fails the electrical testing will be physically isolated (plug cut off) to make sure the equipment cannot be used until repaired. The Market Business is responsible for repairing or replacing the failed equipment.

I don’t want my items tested and tagged.

If you don’t want your items tested and tagged, pack them away at the end of trade into your store tenancy or take them away with you at the end of trade.

Staying safe in the Market

All Market users have a responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others, and to comply with Market Operating Rules and the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) plan.

Electrical safety is a key safety issue within the common and trading areas of the market.

The following rules aim to minimise the risks associated with electrical hazards including the risks of fires and electrocution:

• Access to electrical switchboards is to be kept clear at all times
• All electrical work is to be undertaken by a qualified electrician
• Double adaptors must not be used – use portable power boards that have individual switches on each outlet.
• Cords and leads are not to be run across floors, doorways, walkways, aisles or anywhere else they could be tripped or ran over.

For further information, contact the Melbourne Market Help Desk on 9258 6149 or email workrequest@melbournemarket.com.au

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Get your campaign packs.

Selling flowers this Mother’s Day? Make sure you get your hands on some point of sale material for one of the most significant flower buyers occasions.

Mother’s Day campaign packs are available at the Customer Service Centre and all imagery can be downloaded from Power of the Flower.

Access cards reminder

Thank you to all Market users that have paid their access card invoices in full.

A reminder that payments are now overdue so pay now to avoid being locked out of the Market.

To make payment contact the Customer Service Centre on 9258 6123 from 4:00am to 11:00am.

Industry News

Country of Origin labelling reminder

A reminder businesses will be required to make changes to the country of origin labels on unpackaged fresh fruit and vegetables before they become mandatory on 1 July 2018.

The main change is that most imported, packaged foods are now required to have the country of origin statement placed in a clearly defined box on the label.

When the transition period ends on 1 July 2018, food entering Australia must be labelled according to the requirements of the Information Standard or penalties will apply.

For more information on the new rules visit here.

Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit point of sale available

Don’t forget to collect Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit point of sale kits for FREE from outside the Customer Service Centre.

The kits include posters, balloons, small display bins, wobblers and shelf strips.

Zespri Kiwifruit USB sticks with photography & images you can use on social media are also available.

Deliciously sweet and juicy, Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit are expected to be available from the end of April until October.

Key Dates

Mother’s Day

• Sunday 13 May

Electrical inspection

• Wednesday 16 May

Greengrocery training program information session

• Friday 18 May

Ask the MMA

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