This Week in the Market – Edition 64

Today’s This week in the Market includes Advisory Committee nominations now open, Australia Day public holiday hours, trading store operation factsheet.

At the Market

Call for nominations to the Advisory Committees

Advisory Committees work with the MMA to advise on matters relating to Market operations and the fresh produce industry. Advisory Committees represent each key stakeholder group:

• Storeholders
• Standholders
• Fruit & Vegetable Buyers

The term of the existing Advisory Committee members is due to expire.

The MMA is seeking nominations by individuals or industry organisations.

You can download relevant forms below or pick up in hard copy from MMA Administration reception between 7.00 am and 3.00 pm Monday- Friday.

Advisory Committee Nomination Form
Advisory Committee Terms of Reference 

Nominations close 3pm, Friday 5 February 2016.

Australia Day public holiday trading 

The Melbourne Market will be closed Tuesday, 26 January for Australia Day. Fruit and vegetable market trading on Wednesday, 27 January will commence at 3:30am.

Trading Store Operation

A new fact sheet on Trading Store Operation is now available on the MMA website to aid store holders when buying and selling from a store.

Post box

Over the past few months, Australia Post trailed both a red (standard) post box and a gold (express) post box at the Market to see which was used the most by the Market community.

The red post box won, so going forward Australia Post will only provide this service at the Market.

The red post box is located in front of the Administration Building in P1 and will continue to be emptied daily.

Nice One!

The Melbourne Market’s role in growing consumption of fresh produce

During 2014/15, the Marketfresh Schools’ program reached 21,787 Victorian students across 123 schools. Each student is supplied with a 54 page activity booklet assisting teachers to incorporate healthy eating into the curriculum.

Many businesses in the Market are providing the produce for the all-important tasting the students have so their food preferences can be positively influenced!

Industry News

Foodbank’s farm to families program

Each year an unquantifiable amount of fresh food produce goes to landfill. This waste is generated throughout the food processing and purchasing chain but for farmers in particular, it is often cost prohibitive to donate their surplus or slightly imperfect stock.
And yet, approximately 108,700 Victorians rely on food relief services each month, over 32,000 of these are children.
The new Farms to Families program, will rescue up to 1 million kilograms of fresh vegetables directly from the farm gate. This fresh and nutritious produce will be sent directly to the welfare agencies and charities that Foodbank supports.
If you would like to donate produce to the Farms to Families program, please contact T J Lim, Food Donor Relations at Foodbank on P +61 03 9362 8311 E tjl@foodbankvictoria.org.au.

Otherwise, food can be delivered behind Store 148 in the Market every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 6.30 am and 9.00 am.

Visual merchandising- why? what? where? and how?

Turn every browser into a customer!

Hume City Council has produced a helpful series of 10 short videos to take business owners through some simple steps to improve store presentation with a small amount of time and effort.

View these videos in links below:

• Visual Merchandising
• Getting the Basics Right
• Elements of a Good Display
• Creating Impact with your Display
• Food and Deli
• Homewares, Florists and Gifts
• Cafes and Restaurants
• Your Annual Check-Up
• Visual Merchandiser Reminders of Success

Apply now to become a 2016 Growing Leader

If you’re looking for a challenge this year, the Growing Leaders program may be just what you need.

Applications are open for the vegetable industry’s national leadership program which focuses on giving participants the tools and understanding to have a positive impact on their own future, the future of their business and the future of the Australian vegetable industry as a whole.

If you or someone you know is keen to join this prestigious program, contact Rural Training Initiatives via jill@ruraltraininginitiatives.com.au or fill out an application form.

Please note that applications close on Friday 22 January 2016 and places are limited.

Key dates

Australia Day Public Holiday

Tuesday January 26- Market Closed

Melbourne Market Golf Day

Save the date Friday 15 April, 2016