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W: freshstate.com.au P: (03) 9408 6627
CEO: Jason Cooper jason@freshstate.com.au
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As we head towards the Christmas season, I would like to begin by taking the opportunity to thank every member for their support throughout the market this year.
With the announcement of the rental increases, the market community’s resilience has once again been put to the test. However, to see everyone participate in the protest and fight for each other’s rights in this market crisis, made me extremely proud of this community.
We are optimistic that if we keep fighting and pushing the #TakethePressureOff campaign to the MMA and State Government, our plead will be heard by Victorian people and families so that we may unite and support each other for the benefit of the fresh produce industry.
I am looking forward to celebrating our industry at the Fresh State Gala Ball. The event will be taking place 1st of March 2025 at the Forum Melbourne, I can’t wait to enjoy this night together and celebrate the community’s milestones.
This Fresh State of Affairs Christmas bumper issue is filled with Christmas greetings from the market community, a recap of the #TakethePressureOff protest as well as seasonal produce articles. We hope that you enjoy the last issue of 2024 and we look forward to bringing you more exciting articles in the New Year.
With that, I would like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Shane Schnitzler President Fresh State Ltd.
Using the Melbourne Market Credit Service is simple. Each week the Credit Service will issue your business with one consolidated statement that summarises your purchases from Market Wholesalers.
The Melbourne Markets Credit Service (MMCS) is a professional service that is widely recognised and respected within the market Assisting sellers and buyers of fresh produce to buy and sell using credit in the Melbourne Markets
Established in 1992, the MMCS has over 25 years industry experience providing the highest standards of excellence and service H
As a registered Buyer joining the Melbourne Market Credit Service is simple.
Application forms are available at the Fresh State office, Store 36 in the market or online at http://mmcs applyeasy com au/credit
After an application form is completed a credit assessment and financial review is performed
Once approved Buyers no longer need to carry cash or cheques in the market
As we approach the end of the year, it’s clear that 2024 has presented serious challenges for our market community, particularly with the recent market rental increases.
It’s time to Take the Pressure Off wholesalers, growers, retailers and all Victorians before this unnecessary decision devastates an entire industry.
I’d like to take a moment to thank the market users who have supported Fresh State with the recent campaign to Take the Pressure Off. We are working to challenge these increases and push back against the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) for fairer rental terms. The decision to increase the rent showcases the MMA’s lack of understanding of the pressure that Victorian families and businesses are already faced with. This campaign is about standing together to ensure that our marketplace remains a viable place for all traders and is a reminder that, as a community, we’re strongest when we support one another.
I hope that you enjoy the last Fresh State of Affairs magazine for 2024 and there will definitely be lots of interesting news and topics to look forward to in the New Year.
I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved break during the festive season surrounded with family and friends.
Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
As we continue to stand up to the MMA and the State Government we will need your ongoing support and we encourage everyone to stay engaged and connected.
Jason Cooper CEO Fresh State Ltd.
Australia’s warm climate and dry summers promote sweeter, juicier stone fruit.
As the name suggests, a stone fruit has a pit or stone in the centre and is surrounded by sweet, soft flesh. They are also a rich source of vitamins A, C and E and a great source of dietary fibre and potassium. Australian stone fruit is grown in all states across Australia, with New South Wales and Victoria being the largest producers.
We spoke to our Fresh State member, Tony from VFS, who has specialised in growing stone fruit on his own family farms since 1954 in Woorinen, North West Victoria. When asked about the 2024-25 growing season for stone fruit he said, “We can expect good quality eating and an abundance of stone fruit to enjoy over the summer”.
These are some common types of stone fruit:
Nectarines have red and yellow, or red and white skin. When ripe the flesh either separates easily from the stone (freestone varieties) or adheres firmly to the stone (clingstone varieties).
The taste of nectarines ranges from somewhat very sweet to having a slightly tarter flavour depending on the timing and variety. Nectarine flesh is highly aromatic and very juicy when ripe.
Australian nectarine varieties are in season from October to April.
The fruit is recognised by their velvety or fuzzy skin which is commonly yellow and red, or red and white. Peach flesh also ranges in colour from white to rich orange, depending on their variety, but are grouped into white or yellow varieties.
Ripe peaches have a delicate aroma and may give slightly under gentle pressure. Like nectarines, peaches can be categorised as either freestone or clingstone.
Australian peach varieties ripen from October to April.
The skin colour of plums ranges from yellow to dark purple or red depending on the variety. Ripe plums have a natural white coating, or bloom on their flesh.
Plum flesh is generally yellow or red with a firm texture and
extremely juicy when ripe. Some varieties, particularly those with red or dark flesh, are very sweet.
Australian plums are available from October to April.
This small velvety-skinned fruit ranges in colour from yellow to orange and may have a blush or a red tinge on the side most exposed to the sun.
Apricot flesh is usually a medium to firm consistency, and depending on the variety, its taste can range from sweet to sour. Apricot flesh detaches freely from the stone and they are popular as a dried fruit as well as fresh.
Australian apricot varieties ripen from November to February.
In the middle of the biggest cost-of-living crisis Victorians have faced, the governmentowned Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) have announced they are increasing the rent for its tenants by 100% over the next 10 years.
When the MMA were asked to comment on this issue, the CEO Mark Maskiell said, “We are also in a cost-of-living crisis and the upkeep of the market now costs more”.
Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, was asked to comment on this issue and said, “Let’s remember as part of that move from the old facility in Footscray through to the brand-new
purpose-built market facility at Epping, rental rates have not been increased at all for that 10year period.”
During the said 10 Year period at the Epping site where tenants were forced to relocate from the Footscray market, the rent has been proven to be increased on average 5.2% over the last 9 years.
This now brings into question, how much does the Victorian Government and the MMA care about the fruit and vegetable industry? What about the people who have spent years of their lives working to keep Victorians fed?
We asked a few of our wholesalers here in the market
about how they feel about the rent hikes, and this is what they said.
“We are now down to a third of the growers from when I first started 25 years ago. A lot of small growers have gone out of business because they are already struggling and can’t keep up with the costs anymore, and now they want to increase the rents here, it’s just totally unsustainable.” – Frank –Big Valley wholesaler for over 25 years.
“We don’t want to pass these rent increases onto the growers and retailers, but where is this money going to come from?”
– Ross Ferrinda – Owner of Ferrinda Fresh for 28 years.
“With everything in the industry already increasing, adding this onto businesses will definitely make it harder for us to be able to supply the Australian consumer” –Johnathon – Perfection Fresh – Been in the industry for more than 20 years.
How is this going to affect the fruit and vegetable industry as a whole? Well, if you talk to the people who have been working in the industry for over 30 years, this will now affect all areas. From growing, to selling and buying, making the basic human right of having access to fresh food harder for struggling families.
The cost of fruit and veggies could increase as wholesalers are already struggling with the increases in operational costs such as transport, fertiliser, labour and packaging. Wholesalers cannot afford to absorb the cost of this rental increase which means it will
need to be passed onto the retailer, who will then need to pass that onto the consumer –the everyday Victorian.
Could these increases lead to 4th generation businesses closing their doors? Meaning more job losses and people’s livelihoods in question as they continue to struggle to keep their business afloat.
Vince from Prestige Produce said, “This is shocking, we are 3rd generation wholesalers and we were hoping for a 4th but with these rent increases this looks like it might be the end of our business”.
In response to the lack of compassion and
communication from the MMA with this issue, Fresh State launched the ‘Take the Pressure Off’ campaign. We aim to bring the market together to make our voices heard and let the MMA know the rent hikes are unsustainable, unjust and unbelievable.
This was reflected on Wednesday 16th October at 7:30 am when all areas of the market, including fruiterers, forklift drivers, truck drivers and office staff came together and formed a blockade at the main entry point at Gate 1.
In front of news media outlets, the market community chanted and raised their signs to let the Victorian people know
we are one, we will fight for our businesses and what is right. If you would like to have your say, visit www.freshstate.com.au/ pressureoff follow the links and email your local MP.
If this is allowed to happen, we will see more greengrocers and independent stores shut their doors, leaving the major stores to have a monopoly in this industry. Alongside with the current inquiry into price gouging from the leading supermarkets this will put further strain on Victorians.
There will be more updates to come so make sure you are following our Instagram, TikTok and Facebook page for new information.
Adrian Gifford from Gazzola Farms took part in the Great Cycle Challenge for his 5th year in a row, committed to raising funds for children battling cancer. While his journey came with unexpected challenges, including a chest infection and a toe infection that limited his total kilometres, Adrian’s determination and community support pushed him to achieve remarkable results.
With the bulk of contributions coming from market users and stallholders, Adrian surpassed his fundraising goal, raising over $9,500.
Adrian also achieved a personal best in the “Round the Bay” ride, completing it in just eight hours—a full two and a half hours faster than his usual time.
With the initial goal set out to reach 2000km in the month of October, Adrian completed 1765.2km and is dedicated to finishing the remaining kilometres in November. Reflecting on the experience, he is grateful for the support
and proud of the progress he made, showing that with perseverance, even the toughest rides are worth it for such an important cause. Well done Adrian!
The generosity from the market users was fantastic and I couldn’t be more grateful.
What is your current role and how long have you been in the market for?
My name is Roy Thierry, I am 19 and work as a forklift operator and delivery driver. This is my first year in the market but prior to this I have been working in the packing shed as a supervisor for about 4 years.
Tell us a bit about Geelong Citrus.
Geelong Citrus was started by my grandfather, John Thierry in the late 1950s based out of Breakwater, Victoria. He had seven children who helped run the business which had initially started off as packing in the
shed and then transitioned to a door-to-door delivery service using wheelbarrows. In the 1960s, he began selling citrus in the Queen Victoria market which then became the Footscray market and here we are three generations in at the Epping market.
What brought you into the market?
Being part of the family business and watching my dad do it as a kid inspired me to follow his footsteps. I have an interest in sales and the market teaches you how to wear many hats.
What is the biggest challenge you face in the market?
The challenges I face in the market would be the night shift hours. It makes it difficult to balance time with family and friends. But in saying that, I am quite lucky to have my dad as a mentor and he guides me when I do face these challenges.
What skills, valuable lessons and experiences has the market taught you?
The market has helped me grow on a personal and professional level by teaching me many valuable skills such as learning not to be nervous when speaking to various people. You have to learn how to speak to anyone in the market especially in sales.
What’s currently in season?
At the moment we have valencias, lemons, mandarins and grapefruit.
What is one of your favourite things about working in the market?
I enjoy operating the forklift and at the moment I am learning how to drive trucks – which is very exciting!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work/on weekends?
My weekends are usually spent hanging out with my friends, working on my car and watching the footy (Go Geelong Cats!)
What’s your favourite item that you stock?
My favourite item that we stock would have to be lemons. I love the smell of fresh lemons, to me it smells like a nice fresh house.
Can you describe your day to day in the market?
My day described in the market would be arriving at about 1.15am and starting on packing and unloading for about two hours. Then at about 3.30am I begin doing deliveries around the market and then at 4.30am
I make sure I am back in time for team breakfast (we eat all together everyday). After breakfast, I do a quick bin sweep driving around the market to collect any of our bins and before I know it, its time to pack, load and leave to go to the packing shed in Geelong.
Is there anything new in stock at Geelong Citrus?
We have recently begun stocking some fresh juices. We send our fresh produce from Geelong Citrus to East Coast which is an Aussie-owned family business specialising in squeezing citrus fruit juice made entirely from 100% fresh fruit. We have six flavours at the moment; lemonade, pineapple, orange and mango (my favourite), apple and squeezed orange. I would highly recommend giving these a try!
The market has helped me grow on a personal and professional level by teaching me many valuable skills...
On Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday the 30th of October, Fresh State members were able to check their health in the market.
Over this two-day event, four nurses from Health Corporations Australia provided comprehensive health tests focusing on vital health indicators including blood glucose levels, blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. The screenings were free and offered between Art n Style and Customer Service between 4-7am where members had the opportunity to assess their cardiovascular health, receive results instantly and advice from the nurses on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The key messages highlighted during the event was the importance of maintaining good overall health for those working night shifts. Night shift work is known to disrupt the body’s natural 24-hour rhythm, which can lead to increased stress, fatigue, and potential cardiovascular risks. The nurses emphasised that irregular sleep patterns, unhealthy eating habits, and a lack of physical activity during night shifts can all contribute to elevated risks of heart disease and other health complications.
The event provided practical tips for night shift workers to help manage these risks. Recommendations included:
¡ Prioritising regular health checkups.
¡ Adopting a heart-healthy diet with balanced meals, particularly avoiding unhealthy snacks late at night.
¡ Staying hydrated and incorporating moderate exercise into daily routines.
¡ Ensuring quality sleep during off-hours to restore the body’s natural balance.
This health check event was a critical reminder of how essential it is to take proactive steps in maintaining overall health. The market community expressed their appreciation to Fresh State and to the nurses for guidance on leading healthier, more balanced lives.
It was extremely convenient, I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t at work.
– Nathan, Melba Fresh
It was very helpful and reassuring – Vince, Ferrinda Fresh
The nurses were extremely supportive and explained things in an easy way to understand. I felt very comfortable and reassured
– Dean, Brescia Wholesalers
We are excited to welcome our newest member to the Melbourne Market Credit Service, Anne.
Anne has recently moved to Melbourne in July from Auckland, New Zealand. Along with her travels to Australia she also bought her two bunnies Oli and Leo and is excited to explore a new city and the Melbourne Market.
On behalf of everyone at the MMCS and Fresh State Ltd, we extend our best wishes to Anne and look forward to her future progress.
Email: carolyn dyson@freshstate com au Email: carolyn dyson@freshstate com au Start 7:00pm to Late Start 7:00pm to Late
spot a l l 1 2 e l v e s ?
4. Which of Santa’s reindeer has the best moves?
8. Santa’s mate who only works once a year.
11 Gingerbread men use these when they break their legs
12 Jingle bells jingle bells Robin flew away.
13. What falls at the North Pole but never gets injured?
15 What do Christmas tree’s wear at the pool?
18. What part of the body do you only see around Christmas?
19. What do you call an elf who won’t share?
20. What kind of bug hates Christmas?
1. I make a gobbling noise.
2. What’s the difference between a snow man and a snow woman?
3 What do naughty people get from Santa?
5 At our Christmas party we get
6 What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
7. The only man who can yell Ho Ho Ho.
9. What is a Christmas tree’s favourite candy?
10 What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?
14. What’s every elf’s favourite type of music?
16. What is every parents Christmas song?
17. You leave this out for Aussie Santa.
Prep & Cook Time:
1 hour and 20 minutes
Serves: 24 cupcakes
Ingredients:
150g unsalted butter, softened
150g caster sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
175g self-raising flour
For the Buttercream:
300g unsalted butter, softened
500g icing sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
Green food colouring
For the toppings:
Sprinkles (as baubles) mini chocolate, edible stars (as a tree topper)
Christmas Tree Cupcakes are a simple yet super creative addition to the desserts for your Christmas festivities.
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan forced and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl or stand mixer until pale and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla along with 1 tbsp of the flour (to reduce the risk of the mixture splitting) and beat again.
2. Sift the remaining flour into the batter and mix to combine until no streaks of flour are visible, being careful not to overbeat. Divide the batter between the cases, ensuring they are all at least half-full. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 12-15 mins until golden. Cool in the tin for 5 mins before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. To make the buttercream, slowly mix the butter, sugar and vanilla together in a bowl using an electric whisk or in a stand mixer. Once combined, beat for at least 5 mins until pale and fluffy.
4. Add the green food colouring, a little at a time, until you reach your desired shade. Spoon the buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Pipe swirls of the buttercream over the cooled cupcakes, building the swirls up into a cone shape.
5. Top the ‘trees’ with the stars, then decorate with sprinkles to make baubles.
C r o s s w o r d a n s w e r s
C h r i s t mas
H o w m a n y e l v e s d i d y o u f i n d ?
New events and times will be communicated in the near future. Thank you to all who have supported our events over the years. We hope you are staying healthy and safe, if you have any questions about events, please email marketing@freshstate.com.au.
Christmas Eve
Tuesday, 24th December
New Years Eve
Tuesday, 31st December
Christmas Day
Wednesday, 25th December
Market closed
New Years Day
Wednesday, 1st January
Market closed
Boxing Day
Thursday, 26th December
Market closed
Australia Day
Sunday, 26th January
Monday, 27th January
In lieu of Australia Day
Market closed
Disclaimer
Fresh State Ltd makes this magazine available on the understanding the users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. Before relying on, or altering any business practices, users should carefully evaluate the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information for their purpose and should obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. This magazine contains views and recommendations that do not necessarily reflect the views of Fresh State Ltd.
Fresh State does not in any circumstances accept responsibility for the accuracy or suitability or otherwise of any information published in Fresh State of Affairs. Fresh State Ltd specifically disclaims all and any liability for loss or damage of any nature whatsoever and however arising, whether due to accuracy, error or omission or any other cause.
In addition, by using the information in this magazine, each user waives and releases Fresh State, its staff and agents from any and all claims relating to the use of this document. In no event shall Fresh State Ltd be liable for any consequential damages resulting from using the information in Fresh State of Affairs.
© Fresh State Ltd 2024
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The Editor
Fresh State of Affairs Magazine Store 36, Melbourne Market 35 Produce Drive, Epping, VIC 3076
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