This Week In The Market – edition 190 – 31 July 2018

• We talk to Hieu Nguyen in the Fresh Five
• Separating fruit eases the squeeze on avos
• Reducing waste and meeting super-food craze

Market News

Emergency training on today

A reminder that later this morning the MMA will be holding an emergency response training session. The session will focus on what to do in the event of an emergency here at the Market. All Market users are welcome to attend the session; because safety is everyone’s responsibility, but ideally at least one representative from each tenancy should attend.
When: Today, Tuesday 31 July
Time: 7:30am – 8:30am
Where: Conference Room, Ground Floor, Market Administration Building

The Fresh Five

This week we talk to Hieu Nguyen.
1. Your role at the Melbourne Market: I work for Tu Do Asian Veggies, I’m in charge of operations, making sure everyone gets their stuff on time. I help with sales and some of the book work and basically assist my parents in the running the business. We sell mainly Asian lines, things like bitter melon and okra, seasonal fruits as well like banana, paw paw, limes and that kind of stuff.
2. If you could only take three fruits or vegetables with you to a desert island, which would you take: Okra, I grew up eating it so it’s one of those things I can’t survive without. Bananas and also mangoes, because mangoes are just the best.
3. When was the last time you bought flowers for someone:  Oh wow, I couldn’t tell you. Maybe I should buy Mum some flowers!
4. Tell us something that is on your ‘bucket list’: I’d really like to go sky diving in New Zealand. I’m thinking I’ll start with bungee jumping and work my way up to sky diving.
5. What do you most enjoy about working at the Melbourne Market: I like the people, everyone’s really friendly, everyone’s really nice. It makes the job much easier.

Advisory committees meeting this week

Advisory committees will be meeting with the MMA from this week to discuss several points, including Market trading hours.
Advisory Committees work with the MMA to advise on matters relating to Market operations and the fresh produce industry. Speaking to your advisory committee members is an effective way you can raise key issues with the MMA.
Click on the links below to find out who your advisory committee members are and talk to them about the Market and industry issues that affect you.

• Fruit and Vegetable Growers Advisory Committee next meeting Wednesday 8 August
• Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers Advisory Committee next meeting Tuesday 31 July
• Fruit and Vegetable Retailers Advisory Committee next meeting Wednesday 8 August

Industry News

Separating ripe and unripe fruit eases the squeeze on avocados

A new initiative to stop shoppers squeezing avocados to test the fruit’s ripeness has resulted in a halving of bruised fruit and higher avocado sales.
Research conducted earlier this year had found 97 per cent of customers gave avocados a squeeze to test ripeness before buying, which was leading to brown marks on the flesh once the fruit was cut open.
To improve quality and ensure customer satisfaction, the avocado industry employed a marketing firm to come up with other ways consumers could determine whether avocados were ripe at the point of sale.
A low-cost and effective solution devised was to segregate the fruit on display according to the stages of ripeness.
Trials of the initiative resulted in a 60 per cent reduction in bruising, and the other, more unexpected result, was a 30 per cent increase in the amount of avocados sold.
Visit the ABC News website to read more.

Spaces still open for VegInnovations seminar

The free, levy-funded VegInnovations seminars are continuing their regional roadshow around Australia, helping growers and their teams to understand the ins and outs of developing value-added vegetable products.
There’s still space to attend the free full-day Victorian workshop being held here at the Melbourne Market on Friday 3 August, but you must register for the event.
These workshops will host leading experts in consumer trends and the supply chain who can help you and your business find new products to capture fresh market segments and create alternative paths to market for your produce.
To find out more, click here.

Growers turn vegies to powder to reduce waste and meet demand for superfood craze

Last week it was broccoli, today it’s brussels sprouts — the powered vegetable trend is making an impact with farmers considering it the way of the future and cutting down on waste. Learn how one farmer is turning waste into profits.

Ask the MMA

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