This Week in the Market – edition 182 – 5 June 2018

In this week’s Market News:

Market trading hours are back up for discussion
Con the fruiterer has the market in stitches
Country of origin labelling is almost here – are you ready?

Market News

Market trading hours

The issue of Market trading hours is one that everyone will have an opinion on.
In recent weeks, the MMA has had several informal discussions with the Market community regarding trading hours. Anecdotally, it appears more user groups and individuals within the Market are in favour of an earlier opening time, primarily due to traffic congestion on Melbourne’s arterial road network after 6.30am. The MMA is prepared to undertake a consultation process to determine if earlier trading hours has wide ranging support by Market users.
As a first step, next week we will hold special advisory committee meetings to determine if there is sufficient support across all sectors of the Market community for earlier trading hours.
Have your voice heard, talk to your advisory committee members over the next week to let them know your thoughts on Market trading hours.

Con has the Market in stitches

‘Con the fruiterer’ visited the Melbourne Market last Thursday for the launch of ‘Aussie Veg’ Peeled Australian Garlic and provided plenty of laughs for the Market community. But don’t worry, if you missed out on seeing Con in person you can hear his comedy sketch on the benefits of garlic on the Melbourne Market Facebook page. Bewdiful!

Watch Con’s garlic comedy sketch on Facebook

Graduate interns for short term hire

Is your business looking for outstanding graduate talent? With La Trobe University’s new Unitemps Graduate Internship Program, you can employ a graduate in any field – marketing, business, finance, human resources, engineering, data analytics and more – for a set period.

3 to 12 month employment terms
Bachelor, Masters or PhD level graduates
no fees and no obligation to offer ongoing employment
pay award rates

La Trobe University staff will help you source the right graduate to bring new skills, knowledge and enthusiasm into your business. To find out more contact:
Catherine Klimeš
T: 9479 6896
M: 0436 483 541
E: unitemps@latrobe.edu.au

The Fresh Five

This week we talk to Anna Santilli or as she’s known at home, ‘Muuummmmm!’

1. Your role at the Melbourne Market: Accounts Manager at Pak Fresh and Aussie Veg Peeled Australian Garlic.
2. If you could only take three fruits or vegetables with you to a desert island, which would you take: Watermelon for hydration, Aussie Veg Australian Peeled Garlic to enhance the flavour of anything I find on the Island, and carrots for various reasons.
3. When was the last time you bought flowers for someone: I prefer to have them bought for me! I get the boys in the warehouse to get me flowers from Ali Flowers in the Flower Market every Thursday for my home.
4. Tell us something that is on your ‘bucket list’: Live overseas for at least six months.
5. What do you most enjoy about working at the Melbourne Market: The personalities you meet and stories you hear.

Industry News

Country of origin labelling – are you ready?

All 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 click here.

Industry revamps its ‘Veggycation’ tool to consumers

Following on from our article last week where we profiled ‘VegEze‘, the smart phone app helping to increase vegetable consumption, the Australian vegetable industry has revamped it’s own online tool. The new-look online education tool ‘Veggycation‘ – an easy-to-use tool for teachers, vegetable growers, health professionals and the wider public, showcases the nutritional benefits of different vegetables and explains the optimal methods to store, prepare and cook them.
In a modern world where future generations will rely on technology, this resource aims educate consumers about the health benefits that incorporating more vegetables into your diet provides, which will hopefully lead to an increase in consumption.

Did you know..?
Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave!

Upcoming Dates

Monday 11 June

Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday – Market Closed

Ask the MMA

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

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