Hort Connections: A Market Visit

Author: Kate Cook

Those from the Melbourne Market who couldn’t make it to Hort Connections this year still got to experience one vital part of the convention that is present each year, a visit to the hosting state’s central market.

Every year at Hort Connections on the very first day of the convention, delegates have the option of getting up nice and early and going out to the hosting state’s central market to explore the facility and see how it is run, and this year the Melbourne Market was the one on display. There were around 90 delegates who arrived at the market on Monday the 24th of June, and for many of them this was their first experience of our new facility in Epping so they were excited to see the changes and innovations that were made with this new site.

This publicity for our market was a great opportunity to show off our wholesalers on the buyers walk, at the flower market, and on the growers floor. It may have been a chilly morning, but as soon as the visitors saw the fresh produce and got the opportunity to talk to our market users everyone started to warm up. The delegates were split up into 6 groups and each visited one of our market stores during their tour to find out more about a specific business, and hear about their operations as well as their history with the Melbourne Market.

The unique layout and custom built facilities at our market were also a great feature, and those visiting had the chance to see the backs of stores and the warehouses as well, and they were also taken through the sustainability and recycling practices of the market and were shown our satellite recycling station. It was great to hear reports later in the conference from those who had visited the market who are involved in markets in other states, and how impressed they were by the modern and purposeful design of the Melbourne Market.

All of the touring groups came back together at the Melbourne Market Authority’s meeting room, where the delegates were treated to breakfast and some information from MMA CEO, Mark Maskiell, about the market itself and what opportunities will be on offer in the future. These opportunities were both physical, such as the use of the vacant land next door to the market, as well as in the marketing space through the National Retail Program “A Better Choice” that is being run by the MMA and Fresh State for Victoria, and is a program that is being run in all states across Australia aimed at championing independent retailers.