relocation confirmed: epping.

reboot your life with juice

around the markets pictorial

market history 1880-1899

sept

embe

r

072011

ISSN: 1838-7829

Fresh State CEO:John Roachjohn.roach@freshstate.com.auEditor / Advertising:Sonja van Eijksonjav@freshstate.com.auContributors:Sally Piper sallyp@freshstate.com.au

Design:Flying Dog Designswww.fddesigns.com.auPhotography:Wuttke Photography www.wuttke.com.auCasamento Photography www.casamento.com.au

Print:King Printwww.kingprint.com.auDistribution:Fresh State of Affairs is produced by Fresh State Ltd and is a free publication.

issue 07 september 2011

2 | What’s on

3 | President’s message

10 | Hours

14 | Around the markets

16 | MMCS

18 | Fresh State Updates

19 | Sam Kekovich

22 | Young Executive Programs

24 | FSL staff

contents

20 random audits: For merchants and agents. HCC compliancy audits.

Published by:

www.freshstate.com.au tel: 03 9689 3233

what’s on:

12 reboot your life with juice: Joe Cross consumed nothing but fruit and veg for 60 days.

4 relocation: Government confirms Whole-sale markets move to Epping.

8 market history: Melbourne’s Market history detailed from 1880 – 1899.

25 Q & a with alby chin Just how passionate is Alby Chin about the industry?

26 levies – a compulsory tax: Find out about how industry levies affect you.

president’s message:

03

Well now we finally know – we are officially moving! On 20 July 2011, the Government confirmed what everyone could see with their own eyes and it came as no surprise particularly given the silence emulating from Spring Street.So what does it mean and where does this leave the community many of whom can reflect on the last forced relocation some forty years ago as if it was yesterday?

Firstly, it puts to rest on ‘staying or going’ and this is a relief in many forms. Members have some certainty given all the talk that has taken place over the last seven years. But what does a single announcement mean if there are no details on recognised equity, what you get at Epping and what is the cost?

Secondly, did the Government actually assess the current site? They probably did, but on what basis? Only the govern-ment knows. An important question is ‘did industry have an input into that deci-sion making process’? The answer is no!

The third point is what can businesses do to improve or reposition their busi-

nesses at Footscray Road over the next four years? This is a difficult question as most businesses normally have a five year horizon and where investment in fixtures, fittings and facilities are con-cerned, a ten year plan is the norm. The last thing industry want is to be held in business limbo for another four years.

The Minister has since sat with the Fresh State board and agreed to work through a process to provide some certainty to

members. The devil will be in the detail but I acknowledge it is a first step. Hope-fully he will still be there when we get to the hard questions on viability and costs, space and allocation and the all important point of competitiveness!

Market hours and enforcement by the operator continues to be the talk of the community. To this end, the operator has finally acknowledged they have a problem and that their shortcomings on enforcement are real.

This is not a difficult problem to solve but until steps are taken to fix the

problem, our view is that the operator is leaving itself exposed and they have to deal with growing anger and frustra-tion from many in the market commu-nity. A level playing field is needed.

The issue of ‘market operating hours’ is to be discussed at a joint Advisory Committee meeting in late August. Unfortunately, (and I don’t want to be a wet blanket), but some of the same people that don’t respect the present

operating hours will be sitting in the room offering advice to the operator on changing operating times.

My point to the operator is that “it is your responsibility to operate the market including

enforcement and operating times – stop pandering to a few individuals when you already have overwhelm-ing support for change”!

This issue of Fresh State of Affairs includes the second in our series on Market History; a feature on Joe Cross, relocation – where is Epping at; what the new Credit Service system looks like; a surprising Q & A and a ‘look around the market’!

Shane Schnitzler President, Fresh State Ltd.

Fresh State Ltd makes this magazine available on the un-derstanding 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 neces-sarily reflect the views of Fresh State Ltd.

Fresh State does not in any circumstances accept respon-sibility for the accuracy or suitability or otherwise of any in-

formation 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 2011

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior permission from Fresh State Ltd. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

The EditorFresh State of Affairs MagazineMarket Box 113, 542 Footscray RoadWest Melbourne VIC 3003

Disclaimer:

what’s on:

from the president

Shane Schnitzler

It is your responsibility to operate the market including enforcement and operating times.

04 OF AFFAIRSre

loca

tion

:issue 07 september 2011

It’s Official. We’re Going!

The State Government finally announced on 20 July 2011 that the relocation of the Melbourne Wholesale Markets to Epping would proceed.

The announcement brings to an end seven years of indecision, mismanagement and frustration for Fresh State members and the market community. But it does not bring certainty!

It is Government’s choice to build Epping. But Government must by now realise that this in-dustry is highly cost competitive. How else can you describe a situation where 150 wholesalers are competing side by side for the same clientele?

And it is important to make sure that this Govern-ment doesn’t try to pass on the much touted ‘mis-management and cost blow-outs’ by the previous government to our members.

05

It’s Official. We’re Going!Certainty for members can only be achieved when full details on what space they get, what facilities they get, what the rents the government want them to pay and what their options will be are all available to make properly informed decisions about their future!

OF AFFAIRS06

key points and process: 20 July – Government confirms that

the Melbourne Wholesale Markets will be relocated to Epping.

Relocation to take place in early to mid 2014-15 financial year.

Government said it was forced to address cost blow outs!

27 July – Fresh State members meeting held to discuss the way forward.

3 August – Fresh State forward discussion agenda and previous Government’s proposal paper to Minister in preparation of meeting.

4 August – Fresh State board and management conducted on a tour of the Epping site.

5 August – Fresh State board and management meet with Minister Napthine and DBI. The meeting works through discussion agenda with the proposal paper now termed the Working Paper.

Key components of process to include timelines and commitment as well as engagement and transparency.

8 August – Fresh State board and management review Working Paper.

17 August – Fresh State members meeting held to update members on Minister’s meeting and any changes to Working Paper.

19 August – Working Paper forwarded to Minister in preparation for next meeting with Minister and DBI.

relo

cati

on:

07

NEW RElocatioN ScoRE caRd

iSSUESPoSitioN

actioN BYdatE

Extensionofleasetermsfor

fullstayatFootscrayRoad.

• July 2015. Clause # 26?

• New clause # 4.3?

• New clause #8?

MMA and FSL CEOs. Immediately.

Previouslyagreedequitypaper

intotality.Now called the working

paper.

• FSL Board to mark

up and forward to

Minister and DBI.

• Meeting to follow.

Forwarded

August 19.

Proximitywarehousingmodels. New paper.

FSL to investigate

options for different

models for discussion

with Minister and DBI.

TBC.

Fitout.What is included /

excluded?

DBI to arrange meeting

with FSL and Builder.Immediately.

Rents(persqmetre). What is included? DBI.TBC.

Allocationofstoreandlocation. Model/s to be used. DBI / MMA.TBC.

Rulesofoperation. To follow.FSL / MMA.

TBC.

TransitionalArrangements. To follow.FSL / MMA.

TBC.

OF AFFAIRS08m

arke

t his

tory

:

The Queen Victoria Market was of-ficially opened on 20 March 1878 and was successful in its early years being the centre of life and activity sur-rounded by dealers and buyers.

The Market was situated less than a kilometre from the Town Hall and covered two city blocks. The larger block was about 15 acres and bor-dered by Victoria, Queen, Franklin and Peel Streets. This block was used for wholesale trade six mornings a week. Part of this block was also used for retail trade on five days of the week. The smaller block bordered by Victoria, Queen, Therry and Eliza-beth Streets (approx 2.5 acres) was at times used for wholesaling but mainly utilized for retail.

In the Council’s by laws, only the larger block is named as the Queen Victoria Market, the smaller block was called the Meat Market. How-ever they were more commonly referred to as the Upper and Lower Markets (because the land slopes

down from Peel Street to Elizabeth Street) or as the Wholesale and Retail Markets.

The Lower MarketThree market sheds, designated G, H and I were built in 1878 for both wholesale and retail use by fruit and vegetable growers and other traders. Prior to this use, the area had been used by the Meat Market. A narrow triangular strip was added to the Eliza-beth Street frontage in 1880 when some of the Melbourne streets were being re-aligned. This enabled the present façade of the Meat Market to be built in 1884 with its centerpiece of farm animals beneath an arch, which is the entry of the market from Elizabeth Street and is now classified by the National Trust along with the adjoining shops.

Although there was some wholesale activity in the sheds from time to time, the Lower Market eventually became a purely retail complex.

The Upper MarketTen of the 15 acres of the Upper Market was originally a cemetery and the rest of the site was made up of land intended for a State School plus other buildings. To facilitate market gardeners who moved across from the Eastern Market, a number of temporary sheds were built in the Upper Market. Five open sided sheds were built initially (A to E) and the sixth (F) included a line of brick stores which formed the southern wall of the market and cut off the view to the remaining cemetery site.

These first ‘temporary’ sheds, with later additions at both ends, are still there more than a hundred years later and have also been classified by the National Trust.

The next edition of Fresh State of Affairs (Edition 8) will cover the Melbourne Market’s History based at the Queen Victoria Market from 1900 to 1919.

issue 07 september 2011

1880 – 1899 Melbourne’s

In the last edition we looked at the history of the Melbourne Market from 1841 to 1879. This covered the beginnings of the wholesale markets in Melbourne and the eventual merger and relocation of the Eastern and Western Markets to the Queen Victoria Market.

09

Did you know….The Banana Alley Vaults were originally used by produce agents and fruiterers to store their produce before market. The name “Banana Alley” comes from bananas being stored and ripened there (using ethylene gas) before being sold. The vaults were divided up into 33 separate spaces, with first tenants being recorded in 1893.

The Banana Alley Vaults are located near the Flinders Street Station in Melbourne and extend onto the North Bank of the Yarra River.

Built in 1891-92, they were originally known as the Viaduct Buildings, and were built in conjunction with the tracks of the Flinders Street Viaduct that run overhead.

The television series Canal Road was set at the Banana Alley Vaults.

With the construction of the Spencer Street Bridge in 1930 Queens Wharf was rendered inaccessible to cargo ships, and the vaults fell into disuse. A cafe was opened in one of the vaults in 1936, being joined by the ‘Pieteria’ cafe selling pies 24 hours a day from the 1950s. Hernes Hobbies also occupied a vault from 1946 until they moved into the basement of Flinders Street Station. Other vaults were used by newsagents as a distribution point, and the Victo-rian Railways refreshment branch as a storage area.

The vaults were neglected and disused for many years and subsequently developed a sinister reputation in the 1970s and 80’s. The vaults were used by homeless persons as shelter from Melbourne’s cold nights, and numerous attacks and murders occurred here.

In 1987 the State Government carried out a $4.5 million refurbishment of the vaults in a project aimed at promot-ing Victorian tourism. The drawcard was ‘Wine Victoria’, which closed after only two years of operation, with other vaults becoming vacant as well.

The area is again considered one of the sites ripe for development in the cen-tral business district, with the redevel-opment of the rest of the north bank of the Yarra.

Market History

If you have any photos, interesting stories or information from your family members regarding their experiences at the Queen Victoria Market please contact Sally at Fresh State at sallyp@freshstate.com.au or on 03 9689 3233.

Top right: Current Queen Victoria market site looking North East.

Buttom left: Present facade of meat market built in 1884 entry via Elizabeth Street.

A.B.

C.D.

E.F.

K. and L.

M.N.

O.

UPPER MARKET

LOWER MARKETG.

H.I.

Built in 1891-92, they (Banana Alley Vaults) were originally known as the Viaduct Buildings.

10 issue 07 september 2011

Once Upon a Time

A true story.

About ten years ago a long time retailer came to a

wholesaler he had been buying from all his life. The

retailer had been in the profession all his life and had

a first class retail outlet. They were both in their mid

forties at the time. The retailer took over the shop from his

father who had also been a retailer most of his life. The whole-

saler’s father served the retailer’s father for many years and

so the sons became second generation wholesaler and retailer.

On this particular day the retailer opened the conversation by

apologising to the wholesaler. The wholesaler was at a bit of a

loss as to why the retailer was apologising and asked him why,

(thinking it may have been something about the product he

purchased the day before).

The retailer said the apology was from three years previous.

Back then, there was a major push to change the market op-

erating hours to a later start (mid 1990s). The retailer told the

wholesaler that at the time he fought not to have a change to

the hours and keep them at the 2.30 am start time. If fact the

wholesaler said the retailer threatened that he would take his

business to someone else if the hours were changed. The hours

were not changed.

But some three years later the retailer had decided to sell his

business. He had six prospective buyers and was confident of

not just selling the shop but obtaining a premium price for it

that he thought it deserved.

The six prospective buyers were comfortable with the shop

and the business but, as the retailer explained to the whole-

saler, none of the six purchased the business and he ended up

selling for a price far less than he expected.

When the wholesale questioned the retailer as to why, he re-

plied “I did not think”!

The retailer explained that was why he was there - to apologise.

It turned out that in each of the six cases the prospective buy-

ers declined to pursue the purchase because the market oper-

ating hours were either too difficult to manage or their part-

enfo

rcem

ent

and m

ark

et

Hours

Following the Fresh State President’s letter to the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) Chairman, we have received a letter saying that a joint meeting of the MMA Advisory Committees has been called for 30 August. The agenda is to discuss two items - market hours and enforcement of operating times.

Whereareweat?

11

The enforcement of operating times agenda item is interesting to say the least. It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure operating hours are adhered to. It is unclear what is to be achieved by the joint Advisory Committees meeting.

It is also getting difficult for the opera-tor to explain its actions (or inactions) now that so many wholesalers and retailers have pointed out the people coming into the market early espe-cially on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Those are the same early entry people being observed leaving the site prior

to opening times or just after open-ing times fully loaded. And I see the “Footscray Road car park” is still doing a booming trade and they don’t pay any parking fees!

As previously published, it is the opera-tor’s decision to set market hours – that is ‘the opening and closing times for buyers to purchase produce’. The actual decision is made by the MMA Board. Given that there have been a number

of recent changes to the MMA Board, no doubt some interesting discussions would have taken place prior to the MMA letter being sent.

You can be sure of one thing - what-ever decisions the MMA make in regard to enforcement and market hours they will be held accountable!! MMA, from the many, many frustrated wholesalers and retailers out there, they are await-ing your decision!

ners did not want the business impacting so much on their

family lives.

The retailer said to the wholesaler that he apologised because

if he listened to the wholesaler and had some foresight at the

time to support the move to later hours his business would

have had six competing prospective buyers!

After two generations the retailer left the industry but still

sees the wholesaler. The wholesaler conveyed to me that the

retailer thinks by not being in the industry it has added years

to his life and that he and his family are still catching up on all

the years that they missed out on because of the early hours

start at the markets and then running the shop for six days a

week!

The wholesaler surmised to me that he had eight to ten years

left in the industry and that changing the hours would be good

for him but ‘not the end of the world’ as he can see the end of

his working life.

But he said that we have to change the hours to reinvigorate

the industry and to draw younger people into the game.

He said that sometimes it is hard to see where the industry is

at, but that it is obvious to ‘blind Freddy’ that we have to make

this industry more attractive to a broader range of the com-

munity; that by making this one single change to hours, how-

ever difficult it may be for some individuals, it was the least

he could do to leave a

lasting legacy rather

than continue to accept

apologies from people

leaving the industry for

the next ten years!!

(Name was withheld by

the Editor).

market hours:

Whatever decisions the MMA make in regard to enforcement and market hours they will be held accountable!!

12 OF AFFAIRS issue 07 september 2011

your life with…heal

th is

sues

:

Reboot

Joe produced a documentary of his journey across America where he consumed nothing but home made vegetable and fruit juices for 60 days in order to improve his own health. It also captures the stories of other individuals who changed their lives by lifting their plant food intake.

Joe Cross has a message to

yell and a story to tell - and the

message is pretty simple: eat

more fruits and vegetables!

It all combines to make a compelling and motivating film, and one the fresh produce industry is hoping will resonate with local audiences in order to boost fresh produce sales.

The former trader turned film maker and health motivator, addressed growers, wholesalers, retailers, researchers and other fresh produce industry delegates at the Fresh Connections 2011 event at the Brisbane Entertainment and Con-vention Centre in June.

His true blue humour shines through in a line from the film that accompanies footage of him shirtless and obese: “I look like I’ve swallowed a sheep”.

“I’d never made a film before, in fact I’d never been in front of a camera before; I fancied myself for telling a story but it was like, how do you make a movie about basically eating fresh fruit and veg-etables, and nuts and beans and seeds?” Joe told the Fresh Connections audience.

He went on to tell how he contacted people who assisted documentary mak-ers such as Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine, Sicko) and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) to help his quest.

“Their first reaction was, let’s go after the fast food guys, let’s go after the govern-

ment, let’s go after the drug companies,” Joe said. “And I said, no, no, no, we’re not doing that.” Joe chose to point to a solu-tion rather than drag out the problem.

The resulting film, entitled Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, shows him, equipped with a battery-powered juicer in the back of his car, travel across the United States, talking to Americans about their eating habits, all the while sipping, sculling and slurping freshly made juice.

The weight fell away and his health im-proved to the point that he has not taken any medication for the past four years.

Joe’s charismatic delivery demonstrated his belief in the cause. Following his speech, he shook hands with delegates and handed out juice samples within the trade display. “I don’t see fat people any more- I just see people walking around with all this extra energy, and I’m wondering, when are you going to use it up?” he said.

Joe founded the Reboot Your Life movement. His film is supported by the Reboot Your Life website, so named for a juice fast’s ability to “reboot” one’s system. The site holds a self-assessment function, along with juicing programs of various lengths and testimonials.

Already the campaign has gathered some strong allies in Australia. The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Australia – New Zealand has aligned it-self with Reboot Your Life to push higher consumptions of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and other plant food matter through a Fruit and Vegetables Week (14 to 20 November).

The alliance has gone beyond just PR work as well. Fresh State’s Business Man-ager Sonja van Eijk completed a seven day reboot while Fresh State President, Shane Schnitzler did a seven day reboot which saw him lose 7.1 kg.

13

“I lost 7.1 kg and felt fantastic” said Shane. “After five days my energy levels started to increase and I had an extra bounce in my step.” Shane said he experimented with different juice recipes as well. “I mixed up my juices to keep the variety in my diet and enjoyed trying a range of fruit and vegetable combinations. My favourite juice combi-nation is apple, celery and carrot”.

Sonja van Eijk also found she had extra energy and didn’t find it hard to replace solid food with juice. Sonja enjoyed the experience so much that the Fresh State office now has a juicer as a permanent fixture in the office kitchen so all staff can ‘juice’ regularly and enjoy the ben-efits that juicing has to offer.

Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead slots into a growing catalogue of feature documen-taries in recent years including Fresh, Food Inc, and Forks Over Knives, which focus on food production and the ben-efits of fresh produce.

“I will tell you now, nearly all of you will be inspired to juice after you watch my movie. You will be, you can’t help it,” Joe said. “I’m going to in-spire the whole country.”

Visit: www.fatsickandnear-lydead.com to get a copy of the documentary and become inspired today. Then take up the Fresh State Chal-lenge to boost your juice and let us know how you go!

your life with…

Email from Sha

ne Schnitzler

dated 23/06/20

11 at 7:32 Sha

ne wrote:

Good Morning a

ll,

As a result of

Fresh Connect

ions and

that inspiring

session from

Joe Cross

I thought it fi

tting to REBOO

T and better

understand the

implications

of such

a program befo

re promoting i

t within

our industry.

After fresh co

nnections I

travelled up n

orth to our fa

rm before

returning 17th

June.

I started my R

EBOOT on Satur

day morning

the 18th set f

or a 7 day pro

gram, it has

possibly been

one of the har

dest things

I’ve done espe

cially the firs

t few days.

On Monday 20th

I had lost ne

arly 5kg

but certainly

felt a little

flat, the

next few days

got easier and

I’m almost

enjoying my ju

ice now. On my

last day

today I find my

self almost 7k

g lighter

than a week ag

o and feel ter

rific.

I would recomm

end this progr

am to anyone

it certainly d

oes REBOOT you

.

Regards,

Shane Schnitzl

er,

CEO Kapiris Gr

oup

J U I C E

Fresh State REBOOT CHALLENGE

Step 1 Visit www.jointhereboot.com Step 2 Sign up for a Reboot

Challenge Step 3 Choose a program that works

for you: •RebootExpressProgram •RebootEntryProgram •RebootStandardProgramStep 4 Get yourself a juicerStep5 Startjuicingandfeeling

fantasticStep 6 Let us know your progress!

Joe Cross has a message to

yell and a story to tell - and the

message is pretty simple: eat

more fruits and vegetables!

Source: Ashley Walmsley, GoodFruit& Vegetables Magazine

14 OF AFFAIRSar

ound

the

mar

kets

:issue 07 september 2011

LinhfromForeverGreenFreshsellsAsianvegesplusmangosandgingeroutonthegrowersfloor.

JoePalunbo,principalatYoungSang&Co-a50yearoldcompanyoriginatingfromtheQueenVicMarket.

JafarhasbeenworkingforStarfruitforfouryearsdoing

everythingfromdrivingforklifts,packing,andtakingorders.

KevinDennehyfromAllProduceTradersishappyaftera‘ripper

Fridaymarket’whereallhisstrawberriesweresold!

DavidChanfromBayswaterFreshisa16yearMelbourneMarketveteranandlikesthefreshandhealthyatmosphere.

EnzoCamugliafromthePrestonMarkethasbeencoming

totheMelbourneMarketfor23yearsand“enjoysthechallenge

ofmakingmoney.”

15

Michael,Tree,Abe,MaiandNataliefromNorm’sCafé.

DanielScavofromYoungSang&Coshowingofftheirprized

WheelersRedCapsicumsoutofBowen.“Theyarejustgood”

saysDaniel.

GuerinoCarusifromProduceConnectionrelaxeswith

acoffeeattheendoftheday.

DavidChanfromBayswaterFreshisa16yearMelbourneMarketveteranandlikesthefreshandhealthyatmosphere.

DidyouknowDragohasbeenmaintainingthemachines

atthemarketfor11years!ThanksDrago!

Shqipe’ssmilingfaceattheGasStation.

TonyNigroandRossFerrindadiscussthequalityofbeans.

mel

bour

ne m

arke

ts c

redi

t ser

vice

:

The Melbourne Markets Credit Service (MMCS) has taken the next step in providing a great service to its members and the Melbourne Market community by providing an online credit system.

The new online system has recently been launched which will increase benefits to buyers, wholesalers and the environment.

The service allows users to reconcile payments and lodge Discrepancy Ad-vices, notify the Credit Service of their payment method and even pay their account online.

Fresh State Ltd President Shane Schnitzler encourages all Fresh State members to jump on board and use the system. “This new program will al-low users to make payments and check accounts online from anywhere in the world” he said. “We can be on a beach in Fiji and making transactions at the same time – it is fantastic”.

Shane added that the new system will save a huge amount of paperwork and time and was the way forward in doing business.

Brismark have been successfully using the system for over three years and their Credit Service can boast an an-nual turnover in excess of $600 million. “Brismark Credit Service members use the online system, with 97% of Bris-

mark’s Credit Service invoices handled electronically and accessible via the in-ternet.” said Margaret Bachelor, Informa-tion Systems Manager at Brismark, part of the software development team.

The MMCS will be the second central market to adopt this new technology after a lengthy investigation of similar models Australia wide. The Adelaide central market will also be installing the software in the next six months.

neW online credit Service to streamline business

freQuently asked Questions:

Q Do I need a computer to use the new program?

a Yes you do however if you do not have access to a computer you are able to use the MMCS Internet Café.

Q Is there training provided if I become a new member of the Credit Service?

a Yes training is provided at the new training facility located in the old Credit Services Building located above the Melbourne Market Authority Customer Service building.

Q Is this system secure?

a The system uses a similar interface to online banking pro-grams used by the major banks and other online facilities.

Q How will this service make things easier for me?

a The new MMCS program will streamline your procedures so that you: • don’thavetohandle paperwork • reducedoublehandling • limithumanerror • havequickerreportingto allow you to manage your account more efficiently • useawebbasedprogram

which allows you to access 24/7 to your account.

fast facts

• Online capability

• Web based software

• Training provided

• Full user support

• Safe and secure

• Reduces cash transactions

• Reduces paperwork

• Proven and successful system

• Created by Brismark

OF AFFAIRS issue 05 september 2011

Training will be made available to all MMCS users and those interested in taking advantage of the many benefits of the system. A new training facil-ity has been created in the old Credit Services offices located above the Melbourne Market Authority Cus-tomer Service building. Training will be overseen by the new MMCS Customer Liaison Officer Sara Wiseman. Sara will also be available for ongoing questions and issues if they arise.

A resource centre is also being de-veloped to assist members with the use of the program and to make the new MMCS online system available to everyone.

Want to Know More?For more information on the new system or to kick-start your training please contact Sara on:

T: 9687 7333 M: 0419 372 980 E: customerservice@melbmcs.com.au www.melbmcs.com.au

The service allows users to reconcile payments and lodge Discrepancy Advices, notify the Credit Service of their payment method and even pay their account online.

We use the Brismark Credit Service online system and find it user friendly and extremely well managed. It has a simple flowing process.

As the system is interfaced with our software, it has allowed us to become fully automated. We welcome the introduction of this proven system here at the Melbourne Markets Credit Service. – Mark Robinson, Holman Fresh.

Holman Fresh Sales team - Mark, Michael, Vince, Vinnie and Marie.

Peter Cowan and Sara MMCS training.

17

OF AFFAIRS18 issue 07 september 2011

dates for your diary:

Event: Date(2011): Location:

FreshStateGalaBall 9September Carousel,

AlbertPark

LaunchofFreshStartFoundation 9September Carousel,

AlbertPark

FreshStateAGM 5October LaureateRoom,EtihadStadium

PMAFreshSummithttp://www.fresh-summit.com/

14-17October Atlanta,Georgia,USA

CherryAuction November MelbourneMarkets

FruitandVegetableWeek 14-20November Tobeconfirmed

fres

h st

ate

upda

tes:

Earmarked as the Wholesalers Night of Nights, the Ball will celebrate innovation, excellence, character and the enthusiasm that makes up the fresh produce wholesale community.

Set at the Carousel on the banks of Albert Park Lake in Melbourne, guests will enjoy a scrumptious meal and be entertained by the Big City Beat Band.

The highlight of the night will be the presentation of industry awards voted by peers in the industry.

Limited tickets are available from the Fresh State office.

Back by popular demand, Fresh State will once again be hosting the Fresh State Gala Ball on Friday 9 September 2011.

2011 AwArdS INCLUdE:

Wholesale Company of the Year

Wholesale Personality of the Year

Young Marketeer of the Year

Platinum SponsorGold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

1919

“Slammin’ “ Sam Kekovich is an Australian media personality, sports commentator and former Australian rules football player.He is well known for his controversial behaviour, both on and off the field, and most recently for his series of sa-tirical advertisements as the spokes-man for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to promote the lamb industry.

Kekovich started his senior football career with VFL club North Melbourne in 1968. The following year he won the club’s best and fairest award and was the top goalkicker with 56 goals. He played a key role in the club’s first premiership win in 1975 by assisting ruckman Mick Nolan by contesting boundary throw-ins, in which he won most of the hit outs against Haw-thorn’s top ruckman Don Scott.

After playing 124 VFL games for the Kangaroos, between 1968 and 1976, he moved to Collingwood in 1977, but only played four games, retiring from the VFL that season. His football career did not end, as he switched to play in

the Victorian Football Association for the Prahran Football Club and played in the 1978 VFA Premiership side against Preston at the Junction Oval.

He was included in the North Mel-bourne Team of the Century, on the interchange bench.

He has carried on his flamboyant style into the media sector, being most no-table for his ‘rants’ on the ABC show The Fat, a breakfast show on Melbourne radio station 3AK, as a radio presenter on Mel-bourne Sports Radio Station SEN 1116, in pre-match AFL coverage on Triple M, and on PTI Australia on ESPN. Kekovich is a columnist for sports website.

In the lead-up to Australia Day 2005, Kekovich headed an advertising campaign encouraging people to eat more Australian lamb. In this particular ad campaign, he labeled vegetarians as being “un-Australian”, provoking

outrage from groups such as animal rights activ-ists.

Kekovich did a similar ad in

2006, and although he did not target vegetarians, he did claim that many of the tragedies befalling Australians in 2005, such as the 2005 Cronulla riots and a scandal at the 2005 Ashes series, may have panned out differently if Australians had more lamb.

36th annual general meeting (agm) of fresh State ltd

wednesday 5 october 2011 at 9.00 am

Kekovich headed an advertising campaign encouraging people to eat more Australian lamb.

All Fresh State members are invited to attend the Fresh State Ltd Annual General Meeting which will take place in the Laureate Room at Etihad Stadium. The meeting will commence at 9.00 am with special guest speaker ‘Slammin’ Sam Kekovich to kick things off and will include breakfast.

The AGM will provide members with an update on Fresh State’s progress over the last year including a financial

update, key industry issues addressed by Fresh State and projections for the future.

All Fresh State members will shortly be issued with login access codes and will be able to download the AGM package from the Fresh State website at www.freshstate.com.au. Hard copies will only be provided by request.

Members are asked to RSVP their attendance to Sonja at the Fresh State Office by 23 September 2011 on 03 9689 3233, 0421 632 521 or: sonjav@freshstate.com.au

It’d be un-Australian if you didn’t attend!

Sam Kekovich

Australia Day 2011 ‘Lambassador’ Sam Kekovich

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e:OF AFFAIRS issue 07 september 2011

Random Audits for

Merchants and AgentsRandom Audits for

Merchants and Agents

This is big news for anyone who is affect-ed by the HCC as a random audit could have a huge impact on your business.

Wholesale businesses have to produce thousands of pieces of paper to satisfy the ACCC audit requirements. These audits affect business operations due to the enormity of time and resourcing in-volved to produce the required material.

This is a real concern to wholesalers and is a wake up call for everyone to make sure they are compliant under the HCC.

Earlier this year the ACCC accepted court enforceable undertakings from a NSW produce trader who contravened the HCC. Galdan Investments Pty Ltd, trading as Tropic Banana Company, acknowl-edged it traded with growers without horticulture produce agreements (HPA)

and without publicly available terms of trade. It also failed to report to growers as required by the code.

As part of the undertaking accepted by the ACCC, Galdan must:

• OnlytradeinhorticultureproducewithgrowerswhereaHPAisinplace;

• Prepare,publishandmakepubliclyavailablethetermsandconditionsunderwhichitwilltradewithgrowersofhorticultureproduce;

• Providestatementstoeachofitsgrowersforthereportingperiods;

• Arrangetradepracticescompliancetrainingforitsrelevantstaff;

• ArrangeforproductionofaDVDcon-taining a presentation outlining the effectandoperationoftheCodeandtoprovideacopyofthatDVDtoallgrowerswithwhomithastradedsince14May2007,withoutcharge;and

• PublishaninformationnoticeintheQueenslandCountryLifenewspaper.

Former ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel reminded the industry that horticulture produce traders should make all efforts necessary to ensure they comply with the code. “The code

has been in effect for more than three years. The ACCC will not hesitate to act if it has concerns that a trader is not meeting all of its obligations,” he said.

“It is important to note that despite the new laws the ACCC’s general approach to enforcing the Act hasn’t changed and that we are still guided by our three pronged approach of:

• Educationandawarenessraisingtoachieve compliance;

• Obtainingoutofcourtsettlementswherever possible; and

• Pursuinglitigationandpenaltiesifnecessary.”

The purpose of the HCC is to improve the clarity and transparency of transactions between growers and wholesalers of fresh produce. It also provides a fair and equitable dispute resolution procedure.

The ACCC can institute legal proceed-ings if the Horticulture Code and/or the Act is breached including:

• Injunctionstostoptheconduct• Compensationanddamages• Settingasideorvaryingrelevant

contracts • Ordersforcorrectiveadvertising

The Horticulture Code has three key aspects:

1. Terms of trade

The HCC requires that all traders, whether trading as agents or mer-chants, prepare, publish and make publicly available a document that sets out the general terms and conditions

Wholesale businesses have to produce thousands of pieces of paper to satisfy the ACCC audit requirements.

The ACCC, under their expanded powers, are currently undertaking random audits of wholesalers across Australia to ensure that they are compliant with the Horticulture Code of Conduct (HCC) under the revamped Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

21

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AdveRtISement

21

under which they will trade with grow-ers of horticultural produce. The Code also specifies what must be included in a terms of trade document.

2. Horticulture Produce agreements (HPA)

The HCC requires that a trader and grower enter into a written HPA signed by both parties before they trade in horticultural pro-duce with each other. The code sets out the minimum requirements for what must be included in a HPA. How-ever, a HPA can also contain terms that are unique to the parties’ situation.

The ACCC do not provide or endorse template HPA’s and you should seek professional advice from your industry as-sociation and or legal adviser if you need help preparing a HPA.

HPA Checklist are available online at www.accc.gov.au

3. Dispute resolution

The HCC provides that growers and traders may agree to use any dispute resolution procedure they choose.

The Office of the Horticulture Media-tion Adviser:• Providesmediatorsforresolving

disputes using the dispute resolution procedure set out in the Code.

• Maintainsalistofhorticultureproduceassessors who may be called upon by the parties or a mediator to provide a report on any matter arising under a

horticulture produce agreement (eg a report on quality of produce).

A list of horticulture produce assessors are available online at http://www.hortcodema.com.au/assessorlist.html

The ACCC aims to conduct five to ten audits each month nationally. Busi-nesses targeted for audits will include those with a history of past complaints and other such intelligence to indicate

potential breaches of the Code and/or Act however the ACCC have the authority to audit at random and will do so without warning.

So the message is clear, ensure your records are up to date and HPA’s are in place.

Want to Know More?Fresh State will be running refresher courses shortly.

For more information please contact the office on 9689 3233.

THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE HCC ARE: • Wholesalerspublishtheirpreferred‘termsoftrade’• Growersandwholesalersusewrittenagreements• Wholesalersareclearlyidentifiedaseitheragentsor

merchants• Wholesalersprovidewrittentransactioninformation

to growers• Independentassessmentisavailableontransactions• Lowcostmediationisavailableifdisputesarise.

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The Young Executive Committee have been finalising their research for their proposed Marketing Program for Retailers in the last couple of months.

They have nearly completed the first draft of their Business Plan and hope to have this program up and running by early 2012.

The aim of this program is to engage the whole supply chain in directing

consumers to their local greengrocer to purchase fresh produce through a comprehensive and specific media campaign.

“There will be continual active man-agement of the program combined with an ongoing campaign plan for seasonal produce” says Lukasz Gorajek from Avanti Fresh Produce who is on the Young Executive Committee and closely involved with the program.

YoungExecutiveMembersarelookingfornewmemberswhoareinterestedintakinganactiveroleinthemarketcommunity.

current young executive members: (left to right)

daniel millis – Mumford Wholesalersmark Grillo – Latorre’s Fruit & Vegetable

Wholesalers Vince natoli (chair) – AMV Freshlukasz Gorajek – Avanti Fresh Produceadrian antonello – Antonello Produce callum cormack – Moraitis

The Young Executives welcome new members onto the committee that are aged 36 years and under.

Being a Young Executive is a great opportunity to:

1. Engage with other like minded young people.

2. Become more educated on industry activities, attend subsidised courses and workshops (such as leadership programs) and obtain board experience – it is a great platform for Senior Board promotion in years to come!

All Young Executives take an active role on the committee and follow the motto ‘many handsmakelightwork’.

“We welcome potential members to come along, observe and/or participate in our meeting” said Lukasz. “We meet once a month in the Fresh State Board Room and it is a great opportunity to get to know one another and work on great programs and initiatives at the same time”.

If you would like to know more about being on the Young Executive Committee have a chat with the current members or contact Lukasz Gorajeck on: 0402 167 749 or: l.gorajek@gmail.com

new

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marketing program for retailers

The aim of this program is to engage the whole supply chain in directing consumers to their local greengrocer.

OF AFFAIRS

23young executive program

s:

The vegetable industry participants gathered in July in Melbourne for the second three-day residential and spent time building their skills around conflict management, understanding power and working with media. During the second residential an industry network-ing dinner was held at the Holiday Inn. Fresh State provided sponsorship for the dinner which was attended by senior government officials, industry leaders and stakeholders and Fresh State.

Growing Leaders have spent three months since the first residential held in Brisbane in April working individually on their businesses and within their in-dustry to further develop and enhance their personal leadership capacity.

The 2011 team have also committed to enhancing the vegetable industry through the delivery of a team mission which will be presented to the industry in Canberra in October.

Fresh State is formally connected to the program through generous sponsorship but also through the participation of two participants during the 2010 and 2011 programs – Lukasz Gorajek (2010 Graduate) and Mark Lorenzetto (2011 Participant) have experienced the program first hand and have both individually excelled.

“One of the strengths of the Grow-ing Leaders program is the breadth of the industry that is represented by the participants in the group – there is such knowledge growth among the participants as they work on the mis-sion – they learn about the variety and skills across the supply chain simply by being in a group that reflects the diversity of the industry” said Jill Briggs of Rural Training Initiatives – Managers of Growing Leaders, a Horticulture Aus-tralia funded and Ausveg supported program.

Mark Lorenzetto from Avanti Fresh Produce is currently participating in the Growing Leaders 2011 – National Vegetable Industry Leadership Program coordinated by Rural Training Initiatives (http://www.ruraltrain-inginitiatives.com.au/home/).

Fresh State is a proud supporter of this program due to its focus on developing skills that participants can apply at three levels – personal, business and national industry. The content of the program ensures that participants are exposed to handling conflict, effective communication, efficient meetings, high performance team building, managing change and media.

“This program is specifically targeted towards the vegetable industry which is very insight-ful from a wholesale perspective” says Mark.

“We get to see a large cross section of people that are involved in the seedling, growing, transport and logistic side of our industry.”

During this course we are involved in a groupprojectthatrequiresustodevelopour leadership skills in a range of situations from organising our group activities to public speaking to our peers of the industry and government.

The part that has helped me the most would be the personal leadership training, which involvesunderstandingpeople’sneeds,han-dling conflict and conflict resolution to name a few. This has helped my business from the prospective that I am able to understand the people in the company and how to achieve more with them.”

leadership program:

MarkistheownerofAvantiFresh.

growing leadersGrowing Leaders 2011 are now halfway through the six-month leadership program that culminates in October 2011 in Canberra.

StuartGriggandJohnRoachattheGrowingLeaders2011Melbournedinner.

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sara wiseman Customer Liaison offiCer of the

meLbourne markets Credit serviCe (mmCs)

Bringing a wealth of experience to her role, Sara is the new Customer Liaison Officer at the MMCS. Having worked at the National Australia Bank for seven years in corporate banking and the Westpac Bank specialising in small to medium enterprises, Sara has a sound knowledge base of the business structures within the market.

Sara is the first point of call for the Credit Service. “I am currently implementing and will then maintain the new online credit service, provide training and will be the interface between the office and the MMCS users.” said Sara. In addition to this, Sara will manage debt collection and the credit pro-cesses of new accounts. “The new online system is a great opportunity for market users to streamline their processes, so I am looking forward to assisting them with this transition”.

Sara will also draw on her business bank-ing skills to assist with cash flow, business strategies and general inquiries for MMCS members.

Riding horses is Sara’s passion when she is not at the market together with spend-ing quality time with her daughter Sienna. Based in the leafy suburb of Endeavour Hills, Sara is currently undertaking a tree change to Ballarat later this year.

You will see Sara walking around the market so feel free to have a chat or contact her on 03 9687 7333, 0419 372 980 or email at: customerservice@melbmcs.com.au.

sally piper CommuniCations offiCer

(fresh state)

You may well have seen Sally roaming around the market place with her camera by now. Sally is primed with writing articles for the Fresh State of Affairs magazine and contributing to the communications chan-nel of Fresh State.

“The market is such a vibrant community with heaps of photo opportunities and lots of history” said Sally. “I am really excited about meeting everyone and finding out who’s who in the zoo and all the personali-ties that make up the market”.

Before joining Fresh State, Sally was the project coordinator for AFFCO (Australian Fresh Fruit Company) coordinating events such as leadership retreats, workshops and tours for the fruit industry and many other communication and project initiatives.

Sally lives in Gisborne with her family and is a keen trail runner and cyclist and loves to keep fit and train in the mountains around Mt Macedon.

It is with this enthusiasm that Sally joins Fresh State. You will no doubt meet her out and about on the market floor looking for photos or stories or just to catch up. And of course if you have any article ideas/sugges-tions for the magazine please drop her a line at: sallyp@freshstate.com.au or 03 9689 3233.

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the last couple of months has seen two new team members

join the fresh state ranks.

24 OF AFFAIRS issue 07 september 2011

25

Works:

S. H. Chin Bros. Pty Ltd - Manager of do-ing whatever needs to be done to finish the job.

Lives:

542 Footscray Road... And then if I’m lucky I get to sleep for 4-5 hours under a tree in Templestowe … That’s how I roll.

Most of my day is spent:

Scratching my head wondering who the hell eats all of these Sweet Potatoes.

The football team I barrack for is:

Collingwood with an eye on Collegians in the Amateurs and Heyfield in the Gippsland League.

My favourite Melbourne Market moment is:

Seeing the pride on my Dad’s face when he saw my brother and I getting the job done and seeing him finally truly relaxing.

The quality I respect most in an employee is:

A “Can-Do” Attitude.

As I have grown older I have learnt:

That the only beauty that matters is kindness.

If I described my business to a stranger I would say:

My brother and I broker commercial levels of fruit for Australian Farmers who send us inordinate, unconfirmed

amounts of produce that we sell for kind-of-a set price to not sure who, at times whenever its most convenient for them.Then rinse and repeat …

The qualities I most enjoy about Melbourne Market are:

That background, nationality or age is irrelevant … We’re all just here for a nice bit of fruit & veg … And that the laughter and raw emotions here are genuine.. You can’t hide your true hap-piness/frustration when you’re as tired as hell …

The pets I have are:

CC, the female Border Collie who thinks she’s Paris Hilton, two fat cats and three orphaned stowaway green tree frogs that were found in the bananas … (Known as Mister Green 1, 2, and 3).

In my spare time I enjoy:

Sitting down and taking in some fresh air and knowing I’ve done a good days work .

My first job was:

An unquantifiable amount of time sort-ing out rotten fruit for Dad who one day said. “Have I ever actually paid you?” But external to fruit it was in a restaurant waiting tables … I do remember think-ing... “Wow! I didn’t realise people pay you to work …”

My fondest memory is:

Making a Christmas decoration out of foil, string and a ping pong ball with my brother Circa 1981.

The aspect of my job I like the most is:

Every relationship is very raw and very real … And there aren’t inane office arguments like, “Who broke the stapler?”

The thing I dislike the most is:

The early hours … There isn’t enough pa-per in this book to print all that is idiotic about this topic …

I am passionate about:

This industry. So much potential. So few willing to listen …

My business associates would say I:

Am a ****! and a ****! (in an endearing way of course).

When I was a child I wanted to be:

A koala in a sturdy looking gum tree. (Yet to be achieved).

The place in the world I would most like to go is:

542 Footscray Road, opening the doors for the day … at 6am.

The thing a lot of people don’t know about me is:

Quite a lot!

My favourite fruit or vegetable is:

Pineapples … They taste amazing and for fruit, they have extremely funky hair.

“It is second nature to be passionate about this profession as a half effort just will not suffice.”

Our Fruit and Vegetable origins date back to our grandfather A.M Chin who was involved in Fruit and Vegetables dat-ing back to just after World War I with the Company F.A.Chinn Pty Ltd.

In 1945, A.M Chin had 3 sons returning from active service and as employment was scarce, began Quong Hoong Wah Pty Ltd. An off-shoot of this was formed when additional sons became involved buying a business named Reagan and Kinney which was renamed S. H. Chin Bros Pty Ltd in 1961.

My dad Richard, worked in the family businesses on a part time basis before becoming full time in the early 1970’s.

He encouraged Nick and I to pursue aca-demic careers where we both attended Monash University.

As fate would have it, the work involved and early hours left little motivation for my older cousins to take up the reins

and Richards ill health saw us at the Markets full time.

We were proud to work alongside Richard for as long as we could, learning small, but important details like, “Do just a few lines and do them well” and “Women growers are better than men”.

We find that it is second nature to be passionate about this profession as a half effort just will not suffice.

We continually look for young, enthu-siastic growers looking to take up the challenges of the fruit and vegetable industry but we are finding it harder to find these people willing to commit to such unattractive hours.

We are often asked what time we start and end. We say, “We start around 1 and finish at 5”. People almost always reply, “You finish at 5am?. and the answer is always, “No, 5pm”.

Q &

A:

25

alby chin

Almonds Apples and Pears Avocado Bananas Cherry

Chestnut Citrus Custard Apple Dried Fruits – House Packaging

Dried Vine Fruit

Ginger Honey Lychee Macadamia Mangoes

Mushrooms, Agaricus

Nashi Nursery Products Onion Papaya

Passionfruit Persimmons Pineapple Potato Rubus

Stone Fruit Strawberry Table Grapes Turf Vegetables (no compulsory levy/charge is payable on asparagus, garlic, herbs (other than fresh culinary shallots and parsley), melons, seed sprouts or tomatoes)

OF AFFAIRS

Producers pay the levies and charges to fund research and development (R&D), marketing and promotion, plant health programs and emer-gency response activities that benefit industry. In many cases the Australian Government matches the R&D com-ponent of levies on a dollar for dollar basis within certain prescribed limits (excluding marketing and promotion).

The producer is usually liable to pay the levy. Where a producer sells their produce via an intermediary such as a first purchaser, wholesaler, buying agent, selling agent or processor then the intermediary is liable to pay the levy on behalf of the producer.

Similarly, for most commodities a producer who sells produce by retail sale, ie direct to the public such as at roadside stalls, shed sales, farm gate etc, must submit a levy.

Each commodity has a different levy structure and levies payable.

In most cases, the levy is collected by the wholesalers and forwarded to the Levies Revenue Service. But it is the responsibility of the producers to ensure that the levy is paid at the first point of sale, regardless of the type of sale – direct or wholesale.

The Australian Chamber is supportive of wholesalers receiving a fee for the educa-tion, accounting and remittance of compulsory levies.

“The Levy is an agreed tax by the production sector and I am sure there have been many benefits from the levies over a long period of time” says John Roach, Executive Director of The Australian Chamber.

“However, wholesalers are not paid to provide for the collection and forward-ing of that money. Given the vast

The Australian Chamber is supportive of wholesalers receiving a fee for the education, accounting and remittance of compulsory levies.

In most cases, the levy is collected by the wholesalers and forwarded to the Levies Revenue Service.

issue 07 september 2011le

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How do industryIndustry levies are a compulsory “tax” voted into place by producers of the commodity that they produce and deemed to pay the levy on. There are currently over 30 horticulture commodities with a levy and/or an export charge. The most common include:

Overall benefits of the compulsory levy system for producers:• GreaterresourcestoinvestinR&D

and matching Federal Government funding.

• R&Dthatdirectlybenefitstoindustrysuch as Biosecurity programs.

• Abilitytoattractgreaterresearch funding for the industry.

• Industrycooperationandresource sharing.

• Greaterpromotionandmarketingspend (no matched funding).

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In most cases, the levy is collected by the wholesalers and forwarded to the Levies Revenue Service.

The Australian Melon Association is proposing a statutory levy of 1 cent per kilo on all Watermelons sold. Full details about the levy proposal will be mailed to all growers who are registered for the formal ballot. Infor-mation is also available on the AMA’s web site, www.melonsaustralia.org.au. The formal ballot is open to every Watermelon grower with results avail-able from 27 September 2011.

Mark Daunt, Chairman of the Associa-tion, says the proposed levy would make a big difference to the oppor-tunities available to the marketing of watermelons. “Marketing and promotion are seen as a high priority for watermelons if growth and profits are to be maintained” he said. There has been some confusion about the melon levy and who will be affected, but Mark confirms the levy is only on watermelons and will directly benefit watermelon growers and those along

the supply chain. “More funding for marketing will have direct benefits for the watermelon industry. It will allow greater promotion at consumer level which equates to healthy sales and sustainability”.

All members of AMA are automati-cally registered for the ballot. Any grower wanting to register can download a ballot registration form from the Association’s web site at: www.melonsaustralia.org.au or fax: 02 8088 6694.

Want to Know More?For more information on the levy, contact the ballot process manager, Richard de Vos by email at: devos.avalon@gmail.com or fax: 02 8088 6694.

The National Summer Fruits Association has recently campaigned stonefruit growers to vote for a higher levy so the Association can fund more marketing programs for apricots, peaches and plums. The

outcome of this vote is expected to be known in late September/October.

The onion industry has voted to change increase its existing levy; the olive industry has conducted a vote for the introduction

of a levy; and the mango industry is also considering changing their levy.

Australia’swatermelon growers are to vote on a national levy to fund essential marketing and someR&Dactivities.

leviesaffect you?

current levy updates:

amount of suppliers and the depth of paperwork required, this is putting a large burden on the wholesalers cost structure in a very cost competitive environment with little or no direct benefit,” John explained.

The collected levies are managed on behalf of levy payers by Horticul-tural Australia Ltd through a Statutory funding agreement with the Federal Government.

the australian melon association: