Summer 2018/19 Issue
65
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Digital
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Meet our
wholesalers p16 OUR
big year in review
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CEO comment BML’s successful year Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) announced its results for the 2017/18 financial year at the company’s Annual General Meeting, held at the Brisbane Markets®, in November. It was a satisfying result with Shareholders supportive of the Boards’ plans in building for the future of the company. BML delivered strong financial results, progressed several significant site development projects and continued to grow the asset value and profitability of the company. The Board was happy to report a net operating profit before tax of $14.99 million, representing 3.6% growth on the previous year. For a more detailed report, read pages 8-9, or read our Annual Report online at https://brisbanemarkets.com.au/newspublications/annual-reports/.
Future development The end of the year is a great opportunity to unveil some exciting projects being worked on in the year ahead, where we will see the completion of many months, and in some cases, years of hard work to bring our ventures to fruition. Look at page 10 for an overview of the major developments that are under construction or underway. These include a Memorandum of Understanding to build a 5,800m2 state-of-the-art warehouse on Sherwood Road, and a feasibility study with the intention of constructing Covered Buyer Unloading facilities near the Brisbane Produce Market trading floor. We will also be launching the Brisbane Night Market in 2019, on the Brisbane Produce Market site, and completing our ambitious Stage 3 solar installation project with panels being installed on 12 buildings across the site.
Brisbane Produce Market Charity Mango Auction, Domenico Casagrande, of Megafresh in Carindale and Chandler. Pages 14-15 will tell you more about the celebrated auction, and the continued generosity of our community with more charity funds raised from the first lychee tray and strawberry tray auctions also held this year.
Move to digital For those looking for the greater convenience of immediate industry news, at your fingertips, readers who receive a printed copy of Fresh Source will need to sign up for a digital copy. We move to a mostly digital service from next year, with news on how receive your three bountiful editions on page 6.
Farewell This month the Markets will farewell Vanessa Kennedy, a longterm BML and Brismark employee with nearly 15 years of service. Vanessa is known to many in the industry for her excellent work hosting Market tours, producing this magazine and coordinating displays in the Brisbane Markets Arch Martin History Room. Vanessa’s legacy to the Markets is in her work writing and producing the Markets book in 2014 celebrating 50 years of history of the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea. Farewell Vanessa, and thanks for all you have done and your contributions to our successes. All the best with your future endeavours.
Season’s greetings On behalf of BML and Brismark, I wish everyone a safe and happy festive season, and above all, a healthy and prosperous 2019.
Wholesalers featured It might surprise many just how much our Brisbane Markets® wholesalers give back to the horticulture industry, aided by their industry body, Brismark, who advocates on their behalf. Meet Brismark’s Members on pages 16-17 and take some time to explore pages 18-19 to gain a better understanding of some of the work carried out behind the scenes.
Andrew Young, Chief Executive Officer, BML and Brismark
Fruity auctions aid charities This edition also looks at the generosity of the Brisbane Markets®’ community, with news on our newly crowned 2018 Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE
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Contents 6 Fresh Updates 6 6 6 7 7 7 7
Fresh Source changes in 2019 Christmas on the trading floor Miguel makes it to Market Winx’s four Cox Plates displayed Christmas fruit for special kids Commercial Centre website goes live Blossoming Christmas trade
8 Fresh Markets 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 14 14 15 15 15
BML’s continued growth trajectory Chairman flags company’s future A striking annual report Shareholders’ competitive return About Brisbane Markets Limited Future development projects Spotlighting Safe Work Month State-of-the-art warehouse on track Bird’s eye view of Brisbane Markets® Brismark Board remains unchanged More about Brismark’s committees Juicy bid for 2018 Mango King Meet the sponsors Lychee Auction a Brisbane Markets® first Lychee industry support Sweet auction supported strawberry growers
16 Feature: Meet our Wholesalers 16 18 18 18 19 19
Doing Business in the Brisbane Markets® Brisbane wholesalers - a national outlook Wholesalers invite their growers Teeing off for charity Brismark wholesalers – our supply chain participants Who is Brismark?
20 Fresh Retailing 20 20 22 22 22
Fruity handouts aid the community Brisbane CBD bus shelter takeover BuyFruit reducing the Christmas shopping queues The full supply chain on film Making ‘A Better Choice!’
24 Fresh Industry 24 25 25 26 27 27 27 28 28 28 29 29
Gala dinner and annual wrap up BFVG’s 70 years of growth Missing minutes mystery Challenging year for growers Diversity core of Hort Innovation Directors Weathering Scenic Rim’s hail damage Monitoring the drought #SmashAStrawb went viral PMA N-Z welcomes new chair New start-up sets sights on fruit fly What is FMA? New Quality Standard for the Fresh Produce Supply Chain
30 Fresh Business 30 Conducting successful job interviews 31 Fair Farms scheme to support growers and workers
32 Feature: Year in review 32 2018 – A year of growth and collaboration
34 Fresh Calendar 34 Save the dates 34 Holiday Season trading hours
BRISBANE MARKETS LIMITED | ABN 39 064 983 017 PO Box 80, Brisbane Markets®, Rocklea, Queensland 4106 E communications@brisbanemarkets.com.au W www.brisbanemarkets.com.au ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES The Editor, Brisbane Markets Limited P 07 3915 4200 or 1800 631 002 E communications@brisbanemarkets.com.au DESIGN Effigy Creative P 07 3040 4343 | PRINT Buckner Printing P 07 3865 9677
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FRESH SOURCE
Summer 2018/19
Fresh Source is the magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited. New editions of the magazine are printed three times a year. Advertising and editorial inquiries are welcome and media outlets are invited to use material without acknowledgement. Fresh Source is printed on Australian made recycled stock.
IF LIFE IS LIKE A FRUIT SALAD, THEN GOOD HEALTH IS THE CHERRY ON TOP!
With your help 240,000 Queenslanders living with diabetes have the support and information they need to live well. To learn more about ways you can help, contact Diabetes Queensland. Phone 1800 177 055 or visit diabetesqld.org.au
Fresh Source changes in 2019 We’ve heard your feedback and we’ve listened – Fresh Source is going to share its latest news even faster in 2019, saving up to a week of waiting for those who have their magazine posted. Have you moved to a digital copy yet? From next year, three times a year the Brisbane Markets®’ “must read” magazine will be sent direct to your email, with the current digital subscribers already used to the easy-to-read publication on their mobile, tablet or computer. For those who receive the paper copy, you will need to opt-in to the email publication, and it’s so simple:
Step 1: Visit http://brisbanemarkets.com.au/newspublications/fresh-source-magazine. Step 2: Scroll down to the subscription area, type in your details and submit. Step 3: Sit back, and wait for your digital Fresh Source magazine to be delivered to your email each March, June and November. Wanting a quicker way to subscribe? Alternatively, send us your name, company and email details to communications@brisbanemarkets.com.au.
Christmas on the trading floor
Miguel makes it to Market
It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas at the Brisbane Produce Market with pallets of aromatic mangoes wafting into our buyers’ nostrils among the seasonal cherries, stonefruit and tropical fruits on offer.
Foodies across Australia are being treated to a behind-thescenes glimpse of the Brisbane Produce Market, with TV celebrity chef, Miguel Maestre, selecting his fresh produce during trading time.
This year’s annual Christmas barbecue on the trading floor involved welcoming 4,000 people who work or do business daily at the Brisbane Markets® site, many donning Santa hats for their festive sausage sizzle.
Channel 10’s The Living Room fans will see segments with the energetic chef using his natural exuberance to interact with traders and buyers. “I am in heaven,” said Mr Maestre with his trademark Spanish accent, commenting on the abundance of produce on offer. “Look at all of this, you can’t get fresher,” he said.
A buyer introduces herself to Santa during the annual Brisbane Produce Market Christmas Barbecue. 6
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TV celebrity chef, Miguel Maestre, films The Living Room segment from the Brisbane Produce Market trading floor.
Winx’s four Cox Plates displayed Peter Tighe, one of the owners of celebrated racehorse Winx, and a wholesaler at the Brisbane Markets® for more than 40 years, made history on the Brisbane Produce Market trading floor in November. In a first, the Brisbane Markets® community was treated to a display of the four Cox Plates, won by Winx over the past four consecutive years. The J.H. Leavy & Co. section made a unique backdrop, with Mr Tighe welcoming horse racing enthusiasts to view and have their photographs taken with the awards.
Winx owner, Peter Tighe, displays her four Cox Plates on the J. H. Leavy & Co. section.
Christmas fruit for special kids
Blossoming Christmas trade
Hundreds of special kids and their parents were given a bright coloured, healthy surprise with Brisbane Produce Market handing out great tasting fruit at this year’s Special Children’s Christmas Party.
Brisbane Flower Market is getting in the mood for some bountiful Christmas trade with its Facebook and Instagram pages and recent spring ‘Win a bouquet’ competition generating thousands of shares, likes and competition entries through social media.
Twenty Brisbane Markets Limited and Brismark volunteers joined businesses from across South East Queensland to bring some Christmas sparkle into the lives of the 3,000 kids celebrating the biggest party of their lives. Some 350kg of fruit salad tubs were handed out with the healthy fresh fruit provided by seven Brismark wholesaler members.
Alana Kane offers a healthy fruit salad treat to a boy at the Special Children’s Christmas Party
Commercial Centre website goes live
Brisbane Flower Market retailers are experiencing a blossoming Christmas trade. From left, Flowerlovers’ Sandra Carlton serves some seasonal favourites to AnnSophie Sullivan, of Algester.
Brisbane Markets® Commercial Centre businesses just got a whole lot easier to find, with its 40 offices and shops, offering goods and services to the public, easy to find online. You will find it at www.shop.brisbanemarkets.com.au The site features detailed maps, fresh food and dining options, opening hours and parking instructions so your real world experience as just as accessible as the website information.
Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE
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BML’s continued growth trajectory The Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) Board received strong Shareholder support to continue the growth and development of the Brisbane Markets® site at its 16th Annual General Meeting in November. The Board reported on several major site improvements that were completed throughout the course of the financial year, including the completion of a new Multi-level Car Park, some smaller warehouse development projects and a new LPG forklift refuelling station. Another significant milestone was the finalisation of the planning and approvals, securing the agreement to lease and commencing construction of the $17.5 million Montague Group warehouse project.
Stage 3 of the solar installation project is set to commence in January 2019, which will see an additional 6,800 panels installed on 12 building roofs across the site. A feasibility study is being conducted into the construction of a new covered buyer unloading area, which will provide a range of parking/consolidation bays for buyers in a weather proof environment near the Central Trading Area.
The Brisbane Markets® 77ha Rocklea site is experiencing continued development under the BML Board’s leadership.
Development timeline Jul 2017
Aug 2017
Sep 2017
Oct 2017
Nov 2017
Dec 2017
Preparation works for the construction of Building D1
Dedicated sprinkler main connection to Building A1 completed
Underground high voltage electrical conduits installed between Site Maintenance and Building B
Construction commenced on Buildings D1 and N
Solar Project Stage 2 completed
Entered into MOU with Global Fresh Australia Pty Ltd to develop design of 5,800m2 Building E1 warehouse
Jan 2018
Feb 2018
Mar 2018
Apr 2018
May 2018
Jun 2018
Fire services connected for Building N
New LPG Facility commissioned
CP1 opened for use
Completion of Buildings D1 and N
Construction commenced on new Building C1 warehouse
Completion of fire ring main
Dec 017
d into MOU obal Fresh a Pty Ltd to p design of m2 Building arehouse
The coming year will feature an ongoing focus on the development of the site, with design development well advanced on the new Building E1 warehouse, which is proposed to be positioned adjacent to the Brisbane Markets® Main Gate, on the southern side of Sherwood Road.
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Jan 2018
Fire servic connected Building
Chairman flags company’s future The 2017/18 financial year was a period of consolidation for Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) with a focus on building for the future of the company. As at 30 June 2018, total assets were $361.8 million and net assets were $155.5 million. Total assets grew by 9.4% and net assets by 4.8%. After including property revaluation impacts, the Board told Shareholders the net profit before tax for the year was a healthy $18.61 million. BML Chairman, Tony Joseph, said solid foundations were laid to develop Queensland’s largest wholesale fresh fruit and vegetable, at Rocklea. He said this was through the commitment and guidance of his Board Members, who were returned to their positions during the meeting. “Our 2017/18 performance is a testament to the strength and experience of industrybased ownership of the Brisbane Markets®,” said Mr Joseph. “We have been able to deliver a positive result after what has been an eventful year, with the completion of a number of major construction projects, the staging of a successful capital raising offer and a change within our top 10 Shareholders, while still maintaining a strong industry-based focus.”
BML Directors, back row, from left, Peter Tighe, Evonne Collier, Noel Greenhalgh, Stuart Lummis, Tony Joseph (Chairman); Front row, from left: Bruce Hatcher, Andrew Young (CEO), and Tony Kelly (Deputy Chairman).
A striking annual report
Shareholders’ competitive return
Brisbane Markets Limited has produced its 2017/18 Annual Report featuring a striking photograph of the Brisbane Markets® entry.
Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) Chairman, Tony Joseph, said his Board recognised the importance of providing Shareholders with a competitive return on their investment.
It features the Brisbane Markets®’ Main Entry with the ‘Queensland’s heart of fresh produce’ banner drawing the eye onto the new Multi-level Car Park.
“We were therefore pleased to announce a final dividend of 8.25 cents per share, fully franked,” Mr Joseph told Shaerholders at the Annual General Meeting, in November.
The report focuses on the company’s robust performance, and sets out the busy development program and operational functions, along with a major projects summary.
“This takes the total dividend paid during the year to 16.25 cents per share, fully franked, which is a 4.8% increase on the prior year.”
Take a look at https://brisbanemarkets.com. au/news-publications/annual-reports/or email communciations@brisbanemarkets.com.au for a hard copy.
Includes Financial Report
About Brisbane Markets Limited
ANNUAL REPORT
2018
Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) is the owner of the Brisbane Markets® site, and is responsible for its ongoing management and development. BML strives to provide international-standard facilities and services for fruit, vegetable and flower wholesalers, retailers, provedores, secondary wholesalers, food processors, transporters, exporters, industry organisations and market support businesses. As Queensland’s only central fruit and vegetable market, the Brisbane Produce Market is the State’s most important centre for the marketing and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables. It records annual trade is almost 600,000 tonnes of produce valued at more than $1.5 billion. Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE
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Markets
Future development projects Work is well underway on four major projects to continue the growth of the Brisbane Markets® site. They include:
Building E1 Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Fresh Australia Pty Ltd to design the J. H. Leavy & Co. branded warehouse on the corner of Sherwood Road and Martin Taylor Drive, Rocklea.
Night Market Brisbane MarketPlace will be launching the first fully undercover outdoor Market in Brisbane, to be known as the “Brisbane Night Market,” in the Covered Unloading area at the Brisbane Produce Market. The fully roofed area will be transformed into a must-visit foody hotspot and live entertainment venue, offering the perfect stop for people travelling home from work or school, and will be a great social meeting hub showcasing an array of global street food, free live music and roving entertainment.
Solar project – Stage 3 Work is set to commence on the Stage 3 solar panel project that will span the roofs of 12 buildings. The $3.8 million project is due for completion in early 2019.
Stage 3 of the solar installation project is underway.
Covered Buyer Unloading A review will be undertaken to assess the demand for a new covered buyer unloading area to be located to the north of Building D, in close proximity to the Central Trading Area
The new facility will provide buyers with a weatherproof environment for parking and a fresh produce unloading and consolidation area.
Spotlighting Safe Work Month Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) is a supporter of National Safe Work Month, in October, with the 2018 event shining a spotlight on safety to encourage safe work practices on the Brisbane Markets® site. Events included safety workshops with guest speakers, forklift safety checks, additional training, rewarding forklift drivers for safe driving, competitions, and the ever-popular Beer Goggles Challenge, to show participants how their senses are impaired by drugs and alcohol. BML registers up to 1,400 forklift operators a year, who are driving up to 400 forklifts on site.
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Summer 2018/19
Stumbling into the safety message: BML’s Chris Kane (left) prepares Murray Bros’ Victor Choeun for a mind spinning Beer Goggle Challenge.
Bird’s eye view of Brisbane Markets® Roof installation is nearing completion on the Montague Group warehouse, also known as Building C1.
State-of-the-art warehouse on track Brisbane Markets® northeast corner is transforming with the roof installation underway of the 5,300m2 refrigerated warehouse, tipped to be the most modern in Australia. The roof installation is an important milestone for Building C1 that will allow for works to proceed as planned regardless of inclement weather. Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) is working closely with the Montague Group to build the structure. The $17.5 million warehouse will feature six coldrooms, four fast drying/coolrooms, two finger docks and dock levellers, offices, gymnasium, and a battery change room tailored for the electronic forklifts that will operate in the warehouse footprint. Construction is scheduled for completion in April 2019.
Visitors to the Brisbane Markets® website are being treated to inspiring bird’s-eye views of the 77ha Rocklea site with the release of a new Property DVD using drone film footage. The film was recently updated, and includes new Tenant interviews, along with magnificent shots of the Brisbane Markets® facilities, such as the Market Kitchen, training rooms, offices and Commercial Centre businesses. The key Property Department tool explains the benefits of the location, the vibrant community and the opportunities available for those who are interested in leasing space at the site. You can view the film at www.brisbanemarkets.com.au website.
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Put Your Fresh Produce in Our Hands Full support 24 hours, seven days a week
Ripening, Pressure Cooling, Gassing & Venting, Large-Scale hydro-cooling, General Storage of Fruit and Vegetables
1300 731 699
www.oomiak.com.au customerservice@oomiak.com.au Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 11
Markets
Brismark Board remains unchanged All 11 Brismark Board Directors have remained in place at the recent Annual General Meeting, with each member facing an election every two years to secure their position. The Brismark Board is headed by Chairman, Gary Lower, of J Allen Ltd, and Deputy Chairmen, Mark Murphy, of United Lettuce, and Stephen Edwards, of Murray Bros. They are supported by eight Directors, being, Alex Lazarou,of Ross & Co.; Troy Beaton, of H. E. Heather & Co; Mark Clarke, of Favco (Qld) Ptd Ltd; Noel Greenhalgh, of R W Pascoe; Hamish Montague, of Montague Fresh (Qld); Mark Moore, of M&D Vegetable Specialists; Peter Tighe, of J. H. Leavy & Co; Paul O’Toole, of O’Toole Produce. The Board is aided by Brismark CEO, Andrew Young while the Company Secretary is Brismark General Manager, Gail Woods.
More about Brismark’s committees Brismark has an active Credit Service Committee and a Junior Executive Committee, both acting in an advisory capacity to the Brismark Board.
Credit Service Committee The Credit Service Committee oversees the operation of the Brismark Credit Service and makes recommendations to the Board including changes to the Credit Service By-laws and Bad Debt Reserve payouts. Its members are: Mark Murphy, United Lettuce; Mark Moore, M & D Vegetable Specialists (Chair); Tony Joseph, Alfred E Chave Pty Ltd; Matthew Spencer, Carter & Spencer Group; Craig Chard, So Crisp; Shane Clarke, Favco (Qld) Pty Ltd; Alex Lazarou, Ross & Co; Terry Winston, J Allen Pty Ltd; Rachael Zhong, Murray Bros
Junior Executive Committee The Junior Executive Committee creates an opportunity to develop and mentor people interested in becoming a Board Director. The members are to aspire to be in senior leadership positions as well as providing a means to engage with younger stakeholders on industry and organisational issues. Its members are:
The 2018/19 Brismark Board members who guide the member organisation, which represents and serves the needs of Brisbane Produce Market’s wholesaling sector.
DID YOU KNOW? Brismark’s full name is The Queensland Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries Co-Operative Limited, and has a history dating back to 1941 when it was established as an association of Brisbane’s fruit and vegetable wholesalers.
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Summer 2018/19
Mark Moore, M & D Vegetable Specialists (Chair); Susan Lewis, Murray Bros; Ben Bartlett, J. H. Leavy & Co., Matthew Spencer, Carter & Spencer Group; Lachlan Armstrong, Armstrong Bros; Paul Joseph, Alfred E. Chave; Antoine Fakhry, BG Brisbane; Grant Southen, Ireland 53; Graham McRae, Perfection Fresh Brisbane; Matthew James, Ireland 53; Tim O’Toole, O’Toole Produce; Daniel Spoto, United Lettuce; Joseph Spoto, United Lettuce; Vince Mailli, BG Brisbane; Luke Goody, Central Park Produce.
Markets
Juicy bid for 2018 Mango King It was a juicy winning bid from Domenico Casagrande that saw the Megafresh fruit and vegetable retailer pay $13,000 for the season’s first try of mangoes at the Brisbane Produce Market Annual Charity Mango Auction. Mr Casagrande passionately pushed the bid higher in his tussle to be named the 2018 Mango King, finally snapping up the prestigious tray sourced from Skliros Produce, in the Northern Territory. 2017 Mango King, Nuccio Camuglia, owner of Fruity Capers in Toowong, was beaten to the (fruit) punch for the crown, with the young retailer outbidding him at the last minute. It was the first year Mr Casagrande, with Megafresh stores in Carina and Carindale, had placed a bid, which he said was driven by a sense of wanting to give back to his community.
2018 Brisbane Produce Market Annual Charity Mango King Domenico Casagrande, of Megafresh, Carindale and Chandler.
Raising funds for charity More than $22,000 was raised on the day through additional auction items, donations, raffles and a barbecue, with the funds going to Diabetes Queensland and the MND & Me Foundation. This year’s event was also a rock success, with music superstar Freddie Mercury, of Queen, being welcomed to the stage, only to reveal he was rugby league legend and Your Local Fruit Shop patron, Sam Thaiday, a keen music lover, foodie and mango enthusiast. Brisbane Markets Limited Chairman, Tony Joseph, said the Brisbane Produce Market hosts the only Mango Auction in the country, and annually brings fruit shop owners across Brisbane together.
Meet the sponsors The 2018 Mango Auction was sponsored by the Brisbane Produce markets major mango markets: • Alfred E. Chave • Favco (Qld) Pty Ltd • H. E. Heather & Co. • J.H. Leavy & Co.
Freddie Mercury (aka Rugby league legend and foodie, Sam Thaiday) arrives with the crown, cape and first symbolic tray of mangoes.
• Romeo’s Marketing (Qld) • Perfection Fresh • Additional sponsors included: • Australian Mango Industry Association • Toyota Material Handling Australia • Suez • Spick & Span • Eaton Service Group
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DID YOU KNOW? Since 2002 the Brisbane Produce Market Annual Charity Mango Auction has donated just shy of $1 million to charity thanks to the generous support of bidders and attendees each year.
Lychee Auction a Brisbane Markets® first The Brisbane Produce Market’s charity partner, the MND & Me Foundation, was the beneficiary of over $11,000 following a fundraising auction of the first boxes of lychees for the season, thanks to the insistence of a North Queensland grower and the passion of a Brisbane Produce Market wholesaler. In the tradition of the popular Mango Auction, wholesalers Debbie and John Trimboli of Romeo’s Marketing (Qld) partnered with Mareeba lychee grower, Frank Quintieri, to auction two boxes of Sun Lychees to a supportive Markets community. The Trimbolis matched the winning bid of $5,500, placed by fellow Brisbane Produce Market wholesaler, Mark Clarke of Favco. A long-standing member of the Markets community, Stephen Hunt, was on hand to run the auction and gave a touching tribute to his late wife who passed away five months after being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Lychee grower, Frank Quintieri, said he and his family had also been affected by MND, having lost his grandfather to the disease earlier in the year. Lychee season began in mid-October in Far North Queensland and ends in late March in Northern New South Wales.
Lychee industry support
Lychees go under the hammer. From left, highest bidder, wholesaler Mark Clarke, of Favco (Qld) had his $5,500 bid matched by wholealer John Trimboli, of Romeo’s Marketing.
Sun Lychee spokesperson, Maria Walker, said she was pleased to see lychees front and centre at a Brisbane Produce Market trading floor auction, with the funds going to a great cause. “This is our first ever lychee auction and I’m so grateful to the team at Sun Lychee and Romeo’s Marketing for pulling this all together,” said Mrs Walker. The Australian lychee industry produces around 3,000 tonnes per annum with a farm gate value of $20 million.
Sweet auction supported strawberry growers Brisbane Markets®’ Your Local Fruit Shop retailers were part of a winning charity strawberry auction bid at a Smash a Strawberry Sundae event, held in Brisbane’s King George Square, in September. Brisbane Markets Limited Chairman, Tony Joseph, paid $2,500 for the tray on behalf of the independent fruit and vegetable retailers who wanted to do their bit to support the Queensland strawberry growers, affected by food saboteurs. The Smash a Strawberry Sundae event, hosted by The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, was designed to raise money and offer support for the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association. Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 15
Feature MEET OUR WHOLESALERS Doing Business in the Brisbane Markets® There are 51 primary wholesalers who make up Brismark’s Member base, each an independent business that operate from the Brisbane Produce Market, at Rocklea. Brismark strongly recommends that growers trade with Brismark Member Traders (wholesalers). This is because Brismark’s Members access the services available (see page 19) and pass on the benefits of being a Brismark Member to their grower suppliers. This includes the operation of the Brismark Credit Service, access to FreshTest® and Quality Assurance Services, access to training on topics from Work Health & Safety to the Horticulture Code of Conduct, and access to a free dispute resolution service. The following list includes all Brismark’s Members in the Brisbane Markets®.
Company Name
Principal
Mobile
Phone
Alfred E Chave Pty Ltd
Anthony Joseph
0418 827 584
07 3379 1071
tonyj@alfredechave.com.au
Armstrong Bros Fruit & Veg Merchants
Drew Armstrong
0408 742 177
07 3379 5344
DSarmstrong@bigpond.com
Ba Naanez Plus
Terry Hampson
0419 187 952
07 3915 4107
sales@urt.net.au
BG Brisbane
Anthony Gribben
0411 723 001
07 3278 2877
anthony@bgbrisbane.com.au
Carter and Spencer
Craig Spencer
0418 723 286
07 3361 5555
craig.spencer@carter-spencer.com.au
Central Park Produce
Jonathon Goody
0417 713 235
07 3193 5240
jon@centralparkproduce.com.au
Consolidated Fruit
Gary O’Shea
0418 871 190
07 3278 2558
Costa Group
Ryan O’Keeffe
0427 604 211
07 3379 0300
ryan.okeeffe@costaexchange.com.au
Cumming Produce Centre
Nick Marentis
0438 270 672
07 3379 3409
cumming.produce@optusnet.com.au
Don Alroe & Sons
Paul Alroe
0412 755 665
07 3379 3554
paul@donalroe.com.au
Favco Queensland Pty Ltd
Mark Clarke
0407 781 792
07 3717 1500
markc@favcoqld.com.au
Franklin Bros
Robert Hinrichsen
0412 700 570
07 3379 5944
robert@kalfresh.com.au
Freshmax Australia
Alan Engeman
0416 191 365
07 3392 7596
aengeman@dbmco.com.au
Garden Verde
Bassam Abou Chahla
0410 417 916
07 3379 9590
verde@bigpond.net.au
Gibb Bros
Nicholas Gibb
0419 175 878
07 3379 9999
nick@gibbbros.com.au
Giua Produce
Thuy Ngoc Nguyen Trinh
0419 194 988
GNL Produce
Neale Cullen
0412 092 207
07 3278 1275
admin@gnlproduce.com.au
Gollagher Bros Pty Ltd
Stephen Gollagher
0409 635 700
07 3278 3711
stephen@gollagher.com.au
Gourmetlink
Douglas Rylance
0418 748 096
07 3278 1724
doug@fruitlink.com.au
H E Heather & Co (Brisbane Market)
Troy Beaton
0419 662 293
07 3278 2666
troybeaton@heheather.com.au
Ireland 53
Gary Vedelago
0418 743 028
07 3379 1131
grantsouthen@yahoo.com
J Allen Pty Ltd
Gary Lower
0418 709 291
07 3379 8644
gary@jallen.com.au
J E Tipper Pty Ltd
Steve Barnes
0435 054 528
07 3379 1041
steve@jetipper.com.au
J. H. Leavy & Co.
Peter Tighe
0418 725 844
07 3379 4659
peter@jhleavy.com.au
John Potter Pty Ltd
William Mills
0413 911 700
07 3278 0600
safety@workready.net.au
King Pak Australia
Jack George
0408 459 867
07 3717 1400
jack@simongeorge.com.au
LaManna Premier
Pierre Tannouri
0447 571 984
07 3848 2999
pierre.tannouri@lpgroup.com.au
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giuaproduce@hotmail.com
Company Name
Principal
Mobile
Phone
Lavender & Sons
Gary Lavender
0412 192 370
07 3278 5082
gwl2@bigpond.com
Lind & Sons Pty Ltd
Fraser Lind
0418 714 528
07 3379 7999
lindandsons@lindandsons.com.au
M & D Vegetable Specialists Pty Ltd
Mark Moore
0418 784 249
07 3379 5500
markmoore072@hotmail.com
Marendy & Sons Produce
Mary Marendy
07 3379 1384
marendyandsons@bigpond.com
Marland Mushrooms
Troy Marland
0439 968 878
07 3278 1112
admin@marlandmushrooms.com.au
Montague Fresh (Qld) Pty Ltd
Hamish Montague
0408 750 869
07 3270 3175
hamish@montague.com.au
Murray Bros
Stephen Edwards
0438 949 911
07 3875 8100
sedwards@murraybros.com.au
Nutrano Trading QLD
Chaise Pensini
0429 613 094
02 9746 9800
chaise.pensini@nutrano.com.au
O’Toole Produce
Paul O’Toole
0429 100 500
07 3278 1700
info@otoole.net.au
Perfection Fresh Brisbane Pty Ltd
Jane Rowles
0400 877 020
07 3310 3900
jane@perfection.com.au
Pershouse Produce
Peter Kedwell
0419 673 344
07 3379 3034
pk@asbarr.com
Priority Produce
Steven Rosten
0413 199 904
07 3915 4140
Steve@priorityproduce.com.au
R W Pascoe
Noel Greenhalgh
0417 744 935
07 3379 2686
noel@rwpascoe.com.au
Rising Sun Produce
Christian Hoath
0427 747 464
07 3278 0555
info@risingsun.net.au
Romeo’s Marketing (QLD)
Debbie Trimboli
0412 967 107
07 3278 5455
debbie@rmqld.com.au
Ross & Co Fruit & Vegetables Pty Ltd
Alex Lazarou
0418 790 330
07 3379 3043
admin@rossandco.com.au
Shamrock Marketing
Bob Koning
0408 727 027
07 3915 5010
admin@shamrock136.com.au
So Crisp
Craig Chard
0419 734 587
07 3278 2133
craig@socrisp.com.au
SR Produce
Matthew George
0409 051 141
Sutton Fresh Direct
Rick Sutton
07 5462 7129
07 5462 7129
rick@suttonfarms.com.au
Top Class Fruit Supply
John Mastroianni
0419 930 830
07 3278 6188
john@topclassfruit.com.au
United Lettuce
Mark Murphy
0418 798 462
07 3379 9288
mark@infruit.org
United Organics
Martin Meek
0418 982 625
07 3278 5997
martin@unitedorganics.com.au
Viva Produce
Peter Lahey
0418 752 404
07 3379 7309
peter@bananaripeners.com.au
mgeorge@simongeorge.com.au
Every day, two Australians are diagnosed with MND and two Australians die from MND. There is no cure or treatment and the average life expectancy is 2.5 years.
Please help us ensure that no Queenslander has to face Motor Neurone Disease alone. Reach out, take the next step and join us to become part of the solution.
Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 17
Feature: Meet our Wholesalers
Brisbane wholesalers - a national outlook Brisbane Produce Market wholesalers join more than 430 traders across Australia moving more than four million tonnes of produce, valued at $7.28 billion each year. In fact, Central Markets, such as the Brisbane Markets®, are pivotal to the horticultural supply chain as they facilitate a competitive environment where buyers are able to compare produce quality and prices across a range of different suppliers. Market wholesalers are involved in the sale of some 50-60% of the fresh produce sold across Australia in servicing the requirements of fruit and vegetable retailers, secondary wholesalers/provedores, foodservice industry businesses, processors, exporters and the public. Over 15,000 growers supply to businesses within the Central Market system, about 7,000 of those sending to the Brisbane Produce Market.
Early morning negotiations on the Brisbane Produce Market trading floor: Your Local Fruit Shop/A Better Choice retailer, Harry Nicolaou, of Fresh Sensations, chooses top quality capsicums with Brismark wholesaler, Vince Mailli, of BG Brisbane.
Wholesalers invite their growers
Teeing off for charity
Brisbane Produce Market wholesalers had the opportunity to catch up with their Lockyer Valley growers in November, welcoming the 25 visitors to explore the site during trade.
Keen Brisbane Markets® golfers teed off to raise almost $12,000 for Diabetes Queensland at the annual Brisbane Produce Market Charity Golf Day in October.
Brismark Member wholesalers have a long tradition of welcoming growers to the site, noting the importance of talking eye-to-eye, along with gaining a better understanding of Central Market trading.
More than 100 Brisbane Produce Market wholesalers, provedores, buyers and workers took to the Brisbane Golf Club for the four player ambrose.
The recent Lockyer Valley Growers Inc. visit gave the delegates the opportunity to see how others picked and packed, hear from speakers in the Brisbane Markets® training rooms, and visit coolchain warehouses with a walk through the Alfred E. Chave Pty Ltd and Lindsay Fresh Logistics facilities.
Pershouse Produce’s Robbe Mann (right) speaks with a group of Lockyer Valley Growers Inc. visitors exploring the Brisbane Produce Market trading floor.
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The annual golf day is not the only outpouring of generosity by Brismark Members. Wholesalers donate thousands of dollars in cash and fresh produce donations each year, including supporting numerous causes from major weather events (cyclones, floods, drought etc.), children’s events, sporting club sponsorships and trading floor auctions to raise much-needed cash.
Brisbane Produce Market Charity Golf Day organiser, Phil Thomas, hands over a giant $11,821.20 cheque to Diabetes Queensland’s Julie O’Donovan.
Our supply chain participants Brismark’s Members play a vital role within the fresh produce supply chain and are pivotal to Queensland’s horticulture industry as the State’s largest fresh fruit and vegetable hub. Away from the trading floor, the 51 member wholesalers are value adding to the supply chain. The value they offer includes the range of benefits they access as a Brismark Member, including: • Brismark’s support of independent retailers through the Your Local Fruit Shop program and the national ‘A Better Choice!’ brand (see pages 20-22). • Commitment to nurturing grower relationships, including Memorandums of Understanding with Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers and Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, hosting grower visits and liaising with grower associations across Australia.
• Providing an online produce matching service to assist finding the right Brismark Member for a grower’s produce. • Providing support on FreshSpecs, which are the uniform product standards for fresh produce. • Quality Assurance/HACCP advisory service - Brismark provides a key advisory service to its Members and retailers in regards to Quality Assurance (QA) information and legislative changes. Its role is to help businesses stay informed about key changes in food safety legislation and grocery chain standards/specification i.e. FSANZ, WQA, SQF, Freshcare SC1 and HARPS.
• Operation of a Credit Service for more than 40 years, offering security to wholesalers in their financial dealings and indirectly protecting growers who supply them. • Dispute Resolution Hotline, with Brismark wholesalers providing a free service for more than 15 years, to investigate and settle disagreements. Call 1800 631 002. • Coordinating FreshTest® chemical residue and microbial testing - to provide low cost chemical residue, microbial and heavy metal, with the service also available to growers through their Brismark wholesaler. • Working with growers to provide Horticulture Code of Conduct information and updates. • Debt Recovery Solutions - the service is available to all creditors for debts incurred both inside and outside the Brisbane Markets® and for all manner and type of debt. Note: It is not limited to fruit and vegetable related debt.
Fresh produce salesperson Danielle Peeters, of Favco (Qld) points out the quality of a mango tray. Brismark Member wholesalers utilise FreshSpecs® as a guide to uniform product standards for fresh produce.
Who is Brismark? Brismark is a Member organisation which represents and serves the needs of the wholesaling sector of the fresh fruit and vegetable industry – in particular primary wholesalers – and operates out of the Brisbane Produce Market. It has 51 wholesaler Members and provides advocacy and financial, commercial and marketing services to primary wholesalers, secondary wholesalers, commercial buyers, growers and industry groups and job seekers. As a member organisation it actively lobbies on major industry issues such as the Horticulture Code of Conduct. It also offers a Credit Service facility which acts as a clearing house for its Members and associated businesses that operate within the Brisbane Produce Market providing a secure, efficient and paperless means of conducting business.
The Brimark Credit Service is found on the Ground Floor of the Fresh Centre, at the Brisbane Markets®, with more than $600 million a year managed by the service.
Contact Brismark To contact Brismark, you can visit www.brismark.com.au for more information, or: Phone: 07 3915 4222 Email: admin@brismark.com.au Visit: Level 2 Fresh Centre, Brismark Markets, 385 Sherwood Road, Rocklea QLD 4106 Post: PO Box 70, Brisbane Markets®, QLD 4106 Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 19
Fruity handouts aid the community Your local Fruit Shop retailers are active community members, with a number of them hitting the streets in recent weeks to promote fresh produce and support causes that aid their customers.
MND and Me Foundation family fun day Your Local Fruit Shop retailer, Hawthorne Garage, was out supporting the MND and ME Foundation at a family fun day at Norman Park State School in early November with an abundance of fresh fruit for the taking. The event offered the Norman Park community the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather with rides and activities.
Fruity support for Day for Daniel Colin Pearce, of Brady’s Fruit, cut up to five metres of watermelon and handed out even more fresh fruit options to give up to 2,000 supporters a treat as they walked in the Day for Daniel on the Sunshine Coast. As in past years, the Brady’s Fruit team set up their busy fruit-laden marquee outside their Palmwoods store to assist the event that supports the education of children and adults on empowering kids to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right.
Brisbane CBD bus shelter takeover Brisbane Produce Market’s independent retailers’ Your Local Fruit Shop (YLFS) program tapped into the foodie phenomenon, with Brisbane’s bus shelters a tasty target for a familiar foodie face during a two week fruit giveaway.
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Leaning in to support: Colin Pearce, of Brady’s Fruit, hands out melons to Day for Daniel supporters to help them on their walk.
YLFS front man and rugby league legend, Sam Thaiday, donned his YLFS apron to meet and greet people in the Ann Street bus shelter, in Brisbane City, livening up the site and ideas for dinner. The “Local Foodies Live Here” campaign saw Indooroopilly Fruit’s Joseph Guardala join the league legend by handing out fresh fruit gifts to delighted commuters. Brisbane Markets® wholesalers donated more than 1500 pieces of fruit for distribution to city workers. Bus shelters across Brisbane City were ablaze with YLFS signage, featuring local fruiterers, reminding commuters to shop at YLFS store, where foodies go to buy genuinely fresh, local produce, sourced by experts.
Rugby league legend and known foodie, Sam Thaiday, hands out YLFS fruit at Brisbane’s Ann Street bus shelter.
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BuyFruit reducing the Christmas shopping queues South East Queensland shoppers are being told to avoid the crazy Christmas shopping queues by ordering their fruit and vegetables online from BuyFruit in the lead up to the festive season. The online fresh produce service is the marriage of Brisbane Produce Market wholesalers supplying the best quality produce to Your Local Fruit Shop retailers, who hand pick their stock for delivery to its customers. Shoppers are being asked to place a BuyFruit order, select the delivery date, then sit back and relax until the order arrives at their door. For those who don’t want to wait at home, there is also an option to pick up in store. For more information, visit www.buyfruit.com.au.
From left, son and father, Joseph and Robert Guardala, of Indooroopilly Fruit, are looking happy and healthy in the ‘A Better Choice!’ posters.
Making ‘A Better Choice!’ When you eat local and shop local, there is a guarantee that your money stays within the community. ‘A Better Choice!’, is the first national advocacy program to represent the independent retailers who supply more than half of Australia’s fresh produce across the country. It is a joint initiative of Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) and the Central Markets Association of Australia where fresh produce wholesalers can work hand-inhand with industry partners to brand and co-promote fruit and vegetables.
Local retailers step up South East Queensland’s Your Local Fruit Shop (YLFS) retailers are embracing the brand, and becoming part of the nation-wide campaign with some even stepping in front of the camera to promote it. South East Queenslanders can avoid the Christmas rush and order their fresh fruit and vegetables through BuyFruit.
Photos shoots have been taking place across the YLFS stores, with the friendly faces amid the fruity landscapes of South East Queensland’s best fruit shops.
The full supply chain on film Two Lockyer Valley growers have been caught on film catching up with their wholesalers and buyers, in a film shoot designed to promote the ‘A Better Choice!’ brand in South East Queensland. Vegetable growers Greg Lerch, of Lerch Farms, and Nathan Gehrke, of Campsey Ash Farms, chatted with their wholesalers, GNL Produce’s Brett Cullen and BG Brisbane’s Antoine Fakhry beside buyer, Indooroopilly Fruit’s Robert Camuglia, to complete the supply chain. The film will be used in local social media to promote the national ‘A Better Choice!’ brand.
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Understanding the full supply chain makes for a ‘A Better Choice!’. From left are GNL Produce’s Brett Cullen, Gatton grower Nathan Gehrke, and Indooroopilly Fruit’s Robert Camuglia.
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Gala dinner and annual wrap up By Bree Grima, Managing Director, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers
This year Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BFVG) celebrated its 70th Birthday with a bang of fireworks at our Gala Dinner, held in October. Five-hundred guests enjoyed gourmet meals featuring local produce, danced the night away and networked with other growers and industry colleagues. Queensland’s Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner, spoke of the Region’s prosperity, and BFVG Life Members were invited to the stage for cutting the 70th Birthday Cake. From left, BFVG Chairman Allan Mahoney and Member for Bundaberg, David Batt catch up at the pre-BFVG Gala Dinner drinks.
BFVG would like to thank all sponsors and attendees for making this the best Gala Dinner yet!
Wrap up As we round out another year we reflect on the horticulture industry of the Wide Bay Burnett and are pleased to see that despite numerous challenges, the region continues to thrive and lead in innovative products and quality produce. During 2018, BFVG has represented it’s producers on topics including advocating for assistance during extreme weather events, collaborating with state
government on the implementation of the labour hire licensing scheme, assisting with the roll-out of country of origin labelling and working with producers to ensure they’re compliant, with Horticulture Produce Agreements in place. Numerous workshops, field days and seminars have helped up-skill producers to ensure they have access to the latest information to maximise their productivity and thus grow the profitability of the Wide Bay Burnett horticulture sector.
Partnerships We are thankful for the partnerships we have with grower groups, such as Growcom, and our collaboration with Brisbane Markets Limited ensures representation is a two-way street of information. We look forward to continuing these relationships well into the future.
Season’s wishes From the Office and Directors of BFVG, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and may 2019 be a prosperous and profitable year for all.
Birth of an association Guests looking stylish for the annual BFVG gala dinner were, from left, Leanne and Dougall Rudd, and growers, David and Miranda Holt.
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Snippets from the Bundaberg News-Mail, Friday, 1 October 1948:
Vegetable and fruit growers organise ‘Fruit and vegetable growers met last night and formed an association to be known as the Bundaberg and District Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. ‘On the motion of Messrs E. G. Radke and F. Henrickson senior, the meeting decided to form an association.”
BFVG’s 70 years of growth Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (BFVG) has celebrated its 70th Anniversary as a Cooperative having the fruit, vegetable, herb and nut producers of the Wide Bay Burnett. The association was formed in 1948 with many early meetings hotly debating issues, such as the poor returns from having produce auctioned, the need to feed the district first before sending the harvest to other markets, and issues surrounding produce that was transported by rail. Prior to its formation, producers had experienced limited local markets and low returns. The first meeting was convened by Mr J. Kelly, who was elected Chairman of the meeting, and Mr F. Henrickson junior who was elected Secretary.
Capsicums a plenty! From left, Mario and Attilio D’Addario. In the first six months of 1986, 141,589 cartons were sent from the Bundaberg district to southern buyers, including the Brisbane Produce Market (Photo: M. D’Addario).
Under the Cooperative, producers banded together with a common appreciation of the horticultural potential of the district and now had one voice.
Today’s modern office Today BFVG operates under that same appreciation of the Region’s potential and with one voice. There are many members that are multi-generational which is also reflected in the Board.
Cutting asparagus at Ron Simpson’s packing shed in the 1980s. From left, Bev Steeley, Gina Kirby and Vonney Baumgarth (Photo: Ray Peek).
The current BFVG Board consists of nine Grower Directors and two Independents; the strong strategic direction of the Board chaired by Allan Mahoney is implemented by the Managing Director Bree Grima and five staff members.
Missing minutes mystery Somewhere amongst the archives of someone’s office could be lying the earliest documents produced by the original Bundaberg and District Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (it’s original name). Copies of the first 80 Minutes, from 1948 to 10 June 1955, are missing, with the precious background thought to be contained in one or two old ledger-type books. The six-and-half-year information gap has been filled by the many articles about the BFVG in the Bundaberg New-Mail of the time.
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Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 25
Industry
Challenging year for growers By Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Industry Development Officer, Cherry Emerick
It’s hard to believe that another year is nearly over and once again, it has been a challenging one for our growers. On the regulation side of things, we had the introduction of Single Touch Payroll, Horticulture Code of Conduct, Country of Origin Labelling, Labour Hire Licensing and Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS) to contend with.
Promotional collaboration I was fortunate enough to collaborate with Brisbane Markets Limited and Brismark in its design and/or distribution of information to support our growers. These included a magnet discussing Horticulture Code of Conduct dispute resolution contact details, while the “Keeping Yourself Hydrated” poster has impressed both growers and workers and can be seen in amenities areas right across the region.
Mango season
BGGA Field Day
While a lot of our growers have now wound down for the year, our mango growers are in full swing with high quality fruit in all varieties across the region.
On 9 November 2018, we saw our local Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Research Station came alive with a mini field day.
Labour Hire With the media highlighting the issues of unethical employment companies last year, the introduction of the new Labour Hire Licensing laws have been welcomed by the industry. We had a presentation from Queensland Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations, Grace Grace, and Natalie Wakefield, Director, Labour Hire Licensing Compliance Unit, Office of Industrial Relations, allowing stakeholders to ask questions and provide feedback. Growers were happy that their questions/suggestions were openly discussed and taken on board.
With an exciting number of Case and Can Ams tractors and machinery along with farming implements that growers had the opportunity to test drive and work in the paddock. There was great coffee, muffins and conversation with a number of stakeholders making for a great day (although, the reputation of ‘Blowin Bowen” made a strong stand).
Season wishes Lastly, I‘d like to take the opportunity to thank the team at the Brisbane Markets® for its support during the year. From the BGGA team, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.
Belinda Williams, of Stackelroth Farms, chats with John Ferguson, of Agnorth Case, at the BGGA Field Day. Visitors to BGGA Field Day check over some of the farm equipment on display.
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Diversity core of Hort Innovation Directors Voting members of Hort Innovation welcomed three new Board Directors at their Brisbane Annual General Meeting, increasing their female representation to four out of nine Directors. The newly elected Director, Julie Bird, has a broad background in the Australian horticulture industry spanning over 25 years. Susan Finger has been elected to serve another term, bringing to the table an all-round knowledge of the horticulture supply chain, from farm resource inputs to delivery, and consumer relations.
Monitoring the drought With talk of drought but wild weather causing issues in some parts of Australia, how dry has it really been? A new Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) update provides a perspective on the drought and its effects on crop production and farm incomes. The ‘ABARES Insights – Update on the 2018 drought report’ summarises the overview provided to the Australian Government Drought Summit, held in October.
Stephen Lynch has also been re-elected to serve another term. He has spent the past 20 years working with horticulture producers, including building farm operations.
ABARES Executive Director, Dr Steve Hatfield-Dodds, said in the cropping region of eastern Australia, rainfall was down by around 40% from the 20-year average.
The previous chair, Selwyn Snell was reappointed to serve another term, and Dr Mary Corbett will serve as the new Deputy Chair.
Find the report at https://tinyurl.com/yapwp47k
DID YOU KNOW? Weathering Scenic Rim’s hail damage
The Brisbane Markets® acts as a marketing, warehouse and distribution facility serving the fresh produce industry with wholesalers receiving produce from about 7,000 growers all around Australia.
Growers are still undertaking restoration work on their Scenic Rim farms after a devastating super cell storm hit the Kalbar and Fassifern areas, with damage estimated at more than $10 million. Much of the damage was caused by a vicious hailstorm that wiped out thousands of hectares of corn, carrots, green beans and Lucerne, leaving some growers with 100% losses. Growers gathered in Kalbar in early November for a barbecue, hosted by Salvation Army Fassifern, to discuss the impact and weathering what is predicted to be a long and hard storm season ahead. Fires in the Scenic Rim were also a threat in late November.
2018 has been tough for Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley Growers with drought, wild weather, fires and changes to water allocations.
Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 27
Industry
#SmashAStrawb went viral The viral, grassroots social media campaign, #SmashAStrawb, is being credited as a key tool in returning confidence to strawberry lovers in the wake of September’s needles-in-thefruit panic. Some media outlets created a consumer panic with its “Punnet – Who dunnit?’ reporting, often naming brands that were involved in the initial food terrorism incident. By contrast, other media outlets, such as ABC Radio Brisbane, rallied the community to support Queensland growers, with recipes, a strawberry tray auction and wide, positive promotion that involved Queensland growers to get the industry back on its feet. By November, DNA found on a needle in a strawberry punnet linked to a Queensland farm supervisor resulted in the worker being charged with seven counts of contaminating goods. However, multiple reports of contaminations had swept the country and neighbouring New Zealand, expanding to contamination of other fruits, mostly driven by copy cats and hoaxes. While large growers and exporters moved quickly to install metal detectors in the packing house, the industry quickly identified it was not the best option. The large number of incidents that occurred at the point of sale has prompted a call for improved in-store screening and metal detectors at the checkout, although large supermarkets have been silent on the issue since the suggestion was raised. The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association has praised the actions of Queensland Police for their efforts in investigating the food sabotage that initially crippled the multimillion industry.
PMA N-Z welcomes new chair PMA A-NZ has a new Chairman and two new Directors after its annual general meeting in November 2018. New Chairman Michael Franks, of Seeka Limited, New Zealand, replaces Queenslander, Joe Craggs, of Tropical Pines, who was an enthusiastic advocate for 12 months in the position. Newly elected directors are Benjamin Hoodless, of Bayer Crop Science, and Felicity Turner, of The Yield Technology Solutions. Marie Piccone, of Manbulloo, Paul Turner, of Woolworths and Verena Cunningham, of T&G Global, who filled Board casual vacancies throughout the year and were also officially endorsed to the Board.
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Brisbane ABC Radio Hosts, Loretta Ryan (left) and Craig Zonker (right) stand firm with Brisbane Markets Limited Chairman Tony Joseph at a Brisbane City promotion to aid Queensland’s multimillion strawberry industry in September.
New start-up sets sights on fruit fly Australian farmers are to be assisted through a new tech start-up taking aim at Australia’s biggest biosecurity barrier to trade: the fruit fly. The trial of RapidAIM, which is a real-time monitoring system using technology to detect the presence and location of fruit flies, will potentially cut down the need for time-consuming manual monitoring. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, and Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, announced the new technology that was developed by CSIRO researchers. However, its trials will be held in SA, WA, NSW, VIC and Tasmania, but not Queensland, considered to be a fruit fly hot spot.
New Quality Standard for the Fresh Produce Supply Chain By Brismark General Manager Gail Woods
The wholesale sector of the fresh produce supply chain takes the need for industry quality standards seriously. Brismark and the national wholesaler representative body, Fresh Markets Australia (FMA), proactively support wholesalers, their suppliers and buyers in adopting procedures and systems to improve food safety.
Industry standard recommendation Since 2000, when the horticultural industry owned, not-for-profit, onfarm assurance program, Freshcare was established, FMA and Brismark recommended this as an industry standard for all growers of fresh produce. They also supported wholesalers in encouraging their suppliers to be Freshcare certified. It had been identified by many wholesalers of whole/bulk produce that the quality standards available to them where becoming more complicated and less applicable to the horticulture industry.
In response to address these challenges of food safety and quality compliance, the Joint Accreditation System Australian New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) accredited Freshcare Supply Chain Standard (SC1) was developed by Freshcare and launched at the industry conference, Hort Connections 2018, in June. Subsequently the standard was approved as a Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme (HARPS) Base Scheme on 26 July 2018.
An e-Learning platform As a cornerstone to achieving Freshcare SC1 certification, FMA financially supported its implementation through an e-Learning platform. Brismark worked closely with Freshcare, including providing feedback and assisting through a Member completing a pilot audit to test the Standard. Brismark continues to provide ongoing implementation support to its Members through information and advice.
What is FMA? Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) is the national industry body representing wholesalers and supporting businesses in Australia’s six central fruit and vegetable Markets. Collectively, its Members employ over 10,000 people and have a combined turnover of some $7 billion at wholesale prices.
First certification Brismark Member and Brisbane Produce Markets wholesaler, H.E. Heather & Co. was the first Central Market wholesaler to officially complete the Freshcare SC1 certification. Brismark Member, United Organics, provided valuable support during the pilot phase, gaining SC1 Pilot Certification. A significant number of Brismark Members have now also gained or will soon gain Certification. As a key part of the fresh produce supply chain, Central Market wholesalers are directly impacted by the need for ongoing food safety innovation, research and outreach to support their businesses. Brismark’s support for the development and implementation of the Freshcare Supply Chain Standard is a clear example of its vision is to provide cost effective services and support to primary wholesalers to assist them in operating efficiently and in accordance with their statutory obligations.
DID YOU KNOW? Fresh Markets Australia/ Brismark Members are eligible for a 10% discount on Freshcare Supply Chain Standard (SC1) course costs by emailing eLearning@ freshcare.com.au to receive a unique discount code.
Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 29
Conducting successful job interviews By Sal Trujillo, Brisbane Markets Limited Human Resources Manager
With the current unemployment rate of 5.2%, the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that it is the lowest it has been since 2012. Such a trend in unemployment began in 2014, placing greater pressure on businesses in finding the right candidates to join their organisations. It is therefore important for leaders to be able to screen potential candidates at the interview stage, and in particular, to have both the interviewer and interviewee well prepared.
Plan and Prepare Interview Questions – Based on the key skills and responsibilities listed in the relevant position description, a series of interview questions need to be prepared to explore the candidate’s abilities. The interview questions should include a combination of close-ended questions (yes/no responses), open-ended questions (require more than yes/no responses) and behavioural questions (e.g. describe a time you dealt with a difficult customer). Ensure that interview questions do not contain discriminatory content. Interview Panel – It is recommended to have two to three people conducting the interview to ensure an accurate assessment of each candidate’s abilities. Everyone in the panel must be aware of the process, interview questions and candidates to be interviewed.
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Place – Interviews need to take place in a quiet and safe environment where candidates are able to feel comfortable.
During the Interview Welcome the candidate by introducing yourself and the members of the interview panel and thank them for their time. Explain the interview process to make the candidate feel at ease. Speak Clearly - When asking interview questions, make sure you speak clearly and reframe the question if required. Listen – Listen carefully to the responses provided and the language being used by the candidate. Certainly avoid doing all the talking.
Post Interview Screen Candidates Objectively - Assess each candidate based on the same set of criteria and consider all feedback provided by each member of the interview panel. Notify Candidates - All candidates who have participated in the interview process should be advised of the outcome of their application once a decision has been made and feedback provided when requested. Be mindful of the information provided to the candidates as any information and/or promises made at the interview stage will form the expectations of the successful candidate.
Body Language - Look for non-verbal cues and consider whether the candidate posture gives the impression of being confident and capable. Notes - Take notes to ascertain that key information is considered for each relevant candidate. Candidate Questions - Allow the candidate to ask questions and provide any necessary information to ascertain that the candidate attains a good idea about the responsibilities of the role and your organisation. Ending the Interview - Before ending the interview, confirm the next steps in your recruitment process. It is always helpful to tell the candidate when they can expect to hear on the outcome of their job application.
Candidates need a quiet and safe environment to feel comfortable during a job interview.
Fair Farms scheme to support growers and workers Underpayment or exploitation of workers on horticulture farms is often in the media spotlight. Growcom is leading a proactive response to these issues in the horticulture industry. In November 2018, The Fair Work Ombudsman’s report from its Inquiry into workplace arrangements along the Harvest Trail was released, highlighting: • The extent of non-compliance with workplace relations law by horticulture employers. • The high level of vulnerability of overseas workers. • The widespread misuse of piecework arrangements. • The poor outcomes for workers that often arise when labour hire arrangements are used.
A fair solution With in-principle support from Australia’s major retailers and the Fair
Work Ombudsman (FWO), Growcom is working to establish the Fair Farms Training and Certification Program. The program will support Australian fresh produce production and packing enterprises to implement fair and responsible employment practices.
What is Fair Farms? Fair Farms will offer a practical, industry-lead certification scheme that enables farm businesses to demonstrate to their customers, and the public, that their employment practices comply with Australian law and industry standards. Certification will be based on a thirdparty audit by qualified auditors.
Training Training is a key feature of the program to help ensure employers understand their obligations under Fair Work laws and how to maintain good workplace
practices. The training will give growers clear guidance on the procedures and records they must have in place prior to proceeding to audit.
Pilot phase The pilot phase of the Fair Farms program is now underway and the team is working towards having the program operational for horticulture businesses across Australia by April 2019. To be kept informed about the progress of the pilot and contacted once the program starts in early 2019, register online via the Growcom website: www.growcom.com.au/ fairfarmsinitiative. For further information contact Fair Farms Program Manager, Thomas Hertel: thertel@growcom.com.au.
DID YOU KNOW? Growers are being urged to stay hydrated and take care of themselves and their crops in the predicted searing heat this Summer. Drink water before you are thirsty, avoid ice cold drinks, limit caffeine intake and carry a water bottle with you, making sure you sip water throughout the day. Fair Farms Program Manager, Thomas Hertel: Making it easy for good growers to get good workers so that the Australian public can get good fresh produce.
Evolving Customer requirements Increased competition Finding the right staff Consolidation IT systems
YOUR BUSINESS MATTERS These are just some of the issues that are currently affecting Small and Medium Business. Affinity Accounting Plus has extensive experience in the Markets Industry and can assist you to prepare and implement an effective Business Plan to watch your Business grow. Affinity Accounting Plus is located in the SouthGate East Commercial Centre in the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea. 07 3725 6100 | www.affinityplus.com.au PO BOX 399 BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106
Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 31
Feature
Year in Review
2018 – A year of growth and collaboration 2018 was the year the Brisbane Markets® was marked by extraordinary site development, an oversubscribed capital raising offer, a solid start on its ambitious growth strategy, and continued collaboration across the horticulture industry. This feature takes a look at the year and notes the milestones that have made the industry-owned and managed Brisbane Markets® so successful throughout 2018:
Completion of a 14,130 2 m Multi-level Car Par k, accommodating 540 vehicles over four levels .
Development • Construction of a new LPG Facility was completed, featuring upgraded services and a 3,000L underground tank.
Performance • Brisbane Markets Limited(BML) achieved a net operating profit after tax of $10.49 million in the 2017/18 year - a 3.6% growth on last financial year. • Total assets as at 30 June 2018 were $361.8 million, up 9.4%, with asset growth exceeding debt growth by over $50 million since 2016.
• The walls are being raised on a $17.5 million warehouse project for the Montague Group, known as Building C1. • Completion of a five-stage dedicated fire ring main installation, that began in 2013. • Roof replacements and preparations are making way for Stage 3 of the solar installation project.
• A capital raising entitlement offer take up rate exceeded 76%, and the public offer was heavily oversubscribed, with the additional $38.4 million facilitating the site’s growth. • Investment in Perth Markets Limited is contributing positively to BML’s bottom line results.
Brisbane Markets® and Brismark joined with Australia’s Fresh Produc e Markets’ wholesalers to host the nation’s largest horticulture convention , Hort Connections, in Brisba ne.
Two new warehouses were completed includ ing the expanded 1,516m2 Alfred E Chave Pty Ltd Building N facility, and the H. E. Heather & Co . 411m2 redevelopment (pictu red) at the eastern end of Building D.
32 FRESH SOURCE
Summer 2018/19
Brisbane Markets® joined its national wholesaling colleagues through Central Market Association of Australia and Fresh Markets Australia to implement a national retailer program, “A Better Choice!”.
Industry • Brisbane Markets®’ wholesaling community was readied for the full implementation of the Horticulture Code of Conduct by the 1 April 2018 deadline. • Continued grower liaison through the resigning of Memorandum of Understanding partners, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers and Bowen Gumlu Growers Association.
orks increased to A bird’s eye view: BML’s CCTV netw site. the ss acro 210 cameras
Property • Some 100% of industry property is occupied, with the total occupancy of retail and commercial office space reaching 98.5%. • Independent valuation of BML owned properties stated a fair value at $314.6 million.
rator of the Year Staging of the six-week Forklift Ope compliance and oved competition has resulted in impr site. a safer work
Site Maintenance and Operations • A revised traffic management plan for the site was progressed incrementally, with asphalt resurfacing works. • New electricity meters and electrical monitoring hardware was introduced providing tenants with enhanced reporting on their electricity consumption. The Site Service Centr e issues permits for mo re than 1,100 forklift opera tors, almost 400 forklif ts registrations and provid ed access cards for abo ut 4,500 people on site.
Communications • Launch of a Brisbane Markets® Commercial Centre website, found at shop.brisbanemarkets.com.au. • A Brisbane Markets® Business Expo brought together tenants with service providers and sponsors.
le family to the Mothers’ Day encouraged the who an abundant with g alon et, Mark er Brisbane Flow Valentine’s Day celebration.
• Brisbane Flower Market received lively exchanges on its Facebook and Instagram sites with two online competitions drawing hundreds of responses.
Forty-year service rec ipients were honoured at the annual Brisbane Produc e Market Gala Dinner, with the Queensland Ministe r for Agricultural Indust ry Development and Fisher ies, Mark Furner (centr e) in attendance. The Brisbane Markets® hosted a Men’s Pit Sto p event with both men and wo men on site had access to health professionals to discuss concerns.
om Arch Martin History Ro The Brisbane Markets® exhibition, e” Tim in nt me “Mo a was refreshed with its 150 year history. spotlighting eras amid
Summer 2018/19 FRESH SOURCE 33
Save the dates With 2019 almost upon us, it’s time to pull out your diary and save the dates on what is looking like a busy industry calendar:
June 7
January 16
June 23-26
Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Gala Dinner, Bowen, QLD
Holiday Season trading hours
Produce Marketing Association Fresh Connections, Santiago, Chile
Hort Connections 2019, Melbourne, VIC
February 6-8 Fruit Logistica, Berlin, Germany
Lockyer Valley Growers Horticulture Expo, Gatton, QLD
Brisbane Produce Market will be closed to buyers on the public holidays during December’s festive season, and also on the public holidays in early 2019.
February 14-17
July 26
These include:
Brisbane Produce Market Gala Dinner, Brisbane, QLD
December 25 – Christmas Day
Chinchilla Melon Festival, Chinchilla, QLD
March 25-27
July 24-25
December 26 – Boxing Day
August 28
January 1 – New Year Holiday
May 14-17
Brisbane Produce Market Forklift Operator of the Year, Brisbane Produce Market, QLD
January 28 – Gazetted Australia Day holiday
12th Annual Australian Mangoes Conference, Darwin, NT
October 3
2019 Australian Nut Conference, Sydney, NSW
May 22-24
Brisbane Produce Market Mango Auction, Brisbane Produce Market, QLD
Australian Banana Industry Congress, Gold Coast, QLD
October 24-26
Check trading times at www.brisbanemarkets.com.au. The delivery and pick up of produce is by arrangement with individual wholesalers.
Australian National Field Days, Borenore, NSW
Season’s greetings from all at the ® Brisbane Markets
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