Fresh State of Affairs - Issue #67

04 – A Better Choice! Helps raise money for Royal Children’s Hospital

The Victorian A better choice! team proudly participated in this year’s Run for the Kids event to raise money for Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

06 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Despite busy road conditions and cool temperatures, over 400 people made their way to the Plaza Ballroom on Collins Street to attend the Fresh State Midsummer Night’s Dream Gala Ball for 2023.

08 – And the winners are...

A heartfelt congratulations to the 2023 Award nominations and winners.

10 – Fresh State Gala Ball

Regarded as one of Fresh States’ most prestigious and anticipated nights of the year, the event recognised and celebrated the Melbourne Market community and highlighted the achievements of all its members.

16 – Embracing International Women’s Day with a free cup of coffee

Every year on the 8th of March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to recognising the accomplishments of women everywhere.

17 – Interview with Domenic Pompei from Mountain Fresh Wholesale

Domenic Pompei is the Director of Mountain Fresh Wholesale.

Published By:

CEO: Jason Cooper jason@freshstate.com.au

Editor/Advertising: chloe.ostler@freshstate.com.au

Design & Print:

W: freshstate.com.au P: (03) 9408 6627

Photography: Marketing Department

Distribution: Fresh State of Affairs is produced by Fresh State Ltd. and is a free publication.

18 – Grant Nichol Update: Raising Funds and Awareness

Chief Wholesale Trading Officer of Melbourne Market’s ‘Flavorite’, Grant Nichol and his companion Rick will be starting their journey on the 24th of April to help fundraise for the Pat Cronin charity, a foundation that brings awareness to ending senseless violence.

21 – Wordsearch

22 – KANZI® Apple & Hazelnut Toast

23 – Calendar of events

President’s Message

On the 1st of April we held our much-anticipated 2023 Fresh State Gala Ball. I would like to again congratulate all the individuals and businesses that received Fresh State Awards. Despite not having had one of these celebrations for a few years, the night was a huge success, and we are proud to have hosted such a special event that everyone could enjoy. I would like to personally thank all the Fresh State staff who played a part in organising the event. For those who were unable to make it, we’ve included some pictures and highlights from the night.

I’d also like to thank the Fresh State members who attended the Special General Meeting on the 15th of March. At the meeting, we focused on the future and planned for the continued progression of our organisation.

In this issue, you’ll read a variety of event-filled stories. From announcing the winners of the Gala Ball to celebrating International Women’s Day, there’s plenty to catch up on. You’ll also find fun, interesting, and inspiring stories related to the hard work and contributions of our incredible market community.

Shane Schnitzler President Fresh State

Ltd.

Keep up to date by following Fresh State on Instagram and Facebook!

A Better Choice! helps raise money for Royal Children’s Hospital

The Victorian A better choice! team proudly participated in this year’s Run for the Kids event to raise money for Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

The event gathered over 20,000 participants who ran, jogged, and walked through the various circuits to raise over $1 million for The Good Friday Appeal.

In partnership with Run for the Kids, A better choice! not only supplied free fruit to all runners, but had a separate marquee filled with giveaways to promote the brand.

Zac Egan, State Program Coordinator for A better choice! explains the program wanted to participate in the charity event for several reasons.

“It is a fun run that raises much-needed funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital, plus it has a huge audience of young families who are supporting a great cause by doing something good for their health,” Zac said.

Zac adds that the event also provided A better choice! with the opportunity to promote the importance of choosing locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables to a large Victorian crowd. Partnering with important events like this aligns with the A better choice! vision, which is to educate consumers about the benefits of shopping at their local fruit and veg shop.

While there, they were able to get their message across by supplying over 20,000 pieces of fruit to participants.

Since the event ended, Run for the Kids has raised over $800,000 in support of the Good Friday Appeal.

Katie Bui, a fruit shop owner at Greens Garden Grocer who attended the event and is part of the A better choice! program, said she took part in the run because she wanted to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“I think I managed to raise around $1,700. I wanted to promote healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle, so I thought I would put that into practice,” she said.

Starting out with her running club, Katie decided to take the long course the event offered. That day she ran 14.5 kilometres, beginning at Docklands and going along the Bolte Bridge, she ended up finishing at Batman Hill Drive.

After completing the lengthy course, Katie made her way over to the A better choice! booth which was set up past the finish line.

“At the end of my run, I grabbed some fruit from them just so I could refuel my body. Everybody

was grabbing pieces of fruit after the run, so it was really good to have them there,” she said.

As well as supplying fresh fruit, the A better choice! team had a strawberry and a broccoli mascot to cheer on everyone, both of which were a huge hit with everyone who visited the booth.

Although there was some soreness after the run, Katie was happy she was able to help raise money for such an important charity.

“There’s no better reason to do one of these runs than doing it for kids,” she said.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Despite busy road conditions and cool temperatures, over 400 people made their way to the Plaza Ballroom on Collins Street to attend the Fresh State Midsummer Night’s Dream Gala Ball for 2023.

Regarded as one of Fresh States’ most prestigious and anticipated nights of the year, the event recognised and celebrated the Melbourne Market community and highlighted the achievements of all its members.

At the iconic venue at the Plaza Ballroom, guests were greeted with drinks upon entry, a gourmet three-course meal, and a stunning display from all of our sponsors.

The event was officially opened by Fresh State Chief Executive Officer Jason Cooper, who began by welcoming everyone with a speech. Jason then invited Fresh State President Shane Schnitzler to the stage, who later in the night announced the much-anticipated awards.

The Fresh State Awards are an important part of our market community and are held to recognise individuals for their hard work and dedication. The awards for the night included the Wholesale Personality of the Year Award, Young Marketeer of the Year Award, Buyer of the Year Award, Wholesale Company of the Year Award, and the This is Your Life award.

Once the awards were announced, guests took to the dance floor and enjoyed live entertainment from the Baker Boys Band where guests could dance the rest of the night away.

The evening ended on a high note, and plans for the next annual gala ball are already underway.

And the Winners are...

A heartfelt congratulations to the 2023 Award nominations and winners.

We asked all Fresh State Members to nominate who they think is worthy of the Fresh State Award accolades. Voted by the Fresh State Members and the Marketing community, the awards are as follows

THIS IS YOUR LIFE AWARD 2023

As always, Fresh State presented the “This is Your Life Award” to Lou and Mick Ponte. Both brothers have not only built a successful business, but they have also given back to our market community greatly.

WHOLESALE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2023

A member of the market community whose notable traits have inspired others over the past year. This member is viewed by their peers as being professional, pro-active, and loyal.

WINNER: PETER TRAN –PRODUCE OF VIRGINIA

YOUNG MARKETEER OF THE YEAR 2023

A young individual (between the ages of 18 and 35) who is a part of the market community, contributes their time and talents for the good of the industry, and is also willing to encourage others to participate.

WINNER DOMENIC POMPEI –MOUNTAIN FRESH WHOLESALE BUYER OF THE YEAR 2023

A Buyer who is a timely communicator, an active marketer, a professional in their business practices, and is a positive influence within the Melbourne Market community.

WINNER: TOSCANO’S

WHOLESALE COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2023

A business that is viewed by its customers as a role model within the Market community. As a company they are professional and deliver on their promises with integrity, and honesty.

WINNER: COOLIBAH HERBS PTY LTD

FRESH STATE SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR

A business that has been supportive and contributes to the welfare of Fresh State.

WINNER: TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING

Fresh State Gala Ball 2023

Embracing International Women’s Day with a free cup of coffee

Every year on the 8 th of March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to recognising the accomplishments of women everywhere. To commemorate the special holiday, the Melbourne Market Authority asked Fresh State to hand out free coffee and assorted mini cupcakes to all the visitors who visited the cart.

Sarah Willis from Melbourne Markets Credit Service (MMCS) and Chloe Ostler from Fresh State ran the coffee cart, starting the celebration at 5:30am in front of customer service and ending around 7:30am as everyone began to pack up for the day.

During the celebration, several people stopped by to get their fill of caffeine and sugar. With every long black and latte served, there was a reminder to wish all the women in and outside of the market a happy International Women’s Day.

With almost all the sugar gone, the mini cupcakes disappearing within an hour and the cups running out, it was considered a success by all those who attended. Here at Fresh State, we value and celebrate the impact women have in our markets every day. To our very own female employees, both in the market and in the office, we thank them for their tireless work and for making a difference in our market community.

As the special occasion of International Women’s Day has passed, we hope everyone was able to celebrate and enjoy the special holiday.

Domenic Pompei from Mountain Fresh Wholesale

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT WORKING AT THE MARKET?

I enjoy the camaraderie. You cannot get a community like this anywhere else, it’s something special and I’m happy to be part of it. We also have great growers who have been supportive and given us a chance to be able to build a great business.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACE IN THE MARKET?

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE & HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE MARKET FOR?

I’m the Director of Mountain Fresh Wholesale and I’m primarily responsible for selling produce and procuring. I took over the business two years ago after being offered the store by Anthony, since then we have been working hard to grow the business into what it is today.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO THE MARKET?

My family has been in the market for three generations, beginning back in 1963. My grandfather started out in various retail markets including South Melbourne, Victoria, Dandenong, and the Richmond Market. From there, my grandfather settled at the Dandenong market with my father and continued to trade for over 40 years.

I studied and completed a degree in Accounting and Finance from Monash University and was meant to follow a career in corporate accounting, but after graduating I decided to go work in the market. My father brought us to the markets often growing up, so I feel as though I was raised here, it’s in my blood.

The hours. It can be difficult at times, not only socially but physically as well. With that being said, it is necessary that we come here early and do what we have to do, to ensure our intermediaries have adequate time to set up their shops, cafes, restaurants, etc.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN STOCK THAT IS IN SEASON?

We predominantly sell capsicums, eggplants, zucchinis, chillies, and tomatoes – all of which remain in-season all year long yet derive from various growing areas.

South Australian capsicums season is in full swing at the moment. Soon we’ll start having Queensland capsicums, eggplant, chillis and a bit of variety from different growing areas.

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WON THE YOUNG MARKETEER AWARD AT FRESH STATES GALA BALL?

I was very shocked. I didn’t expect to get the award, however it feels good to be recognised for all the hard work we’re doing at Mountain Fresh Wholesale. Between myself, my family, and all of us here at Mountain Fresh, we’ve been putting in a lot of effort and I’m glad others see that. I also would like to give credit to my father Domenic, my uncle Tony Mecca, and my family for their endless support. I’m very lucky to have a great support network.

GRANT NICHOL UPDATE:

Raising Funds and Awareness

Chief Wholesale Trading Officer of Melbourne Market’s ‘Flavorite’, Grant Nichol and his companion Rick will be starting their journey on the 24th of April to help fundraise for the Pat Cronin charity, a foundation that brings awareness to ending senseless violence.

In hopes of raising $100,000 for the foundation, Grant and Rick will be starting their journey at Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. From there, they will be biking their way up over 1,500 kilometres to the coast and finishing their trek in Darwin. So far they have managed to raise

To learn more about the Pat Cronin Foundation please visit: https://patcroninfoundation.org.au/

over 50,000 and are hopeful of raising the rest before they start their ride.

During their journey through the state, every dollar donated will be matched by a sponsor, and those who donate will be able to follow Grant and Rick as they ride through part of the state.

The challenge will benefit The Pat Cronin Foundation in helping to educate and raise awareness about senseless social violence. Since launching, the Foundation has been able to travel to 200 schools and educate classrooms full of children and young adults. They also have a ‘Be Wise’ program that provides Australians with the skills and knowledge to identify and prevent violence.

As the event nears, Grant has been vigorously training to prepare for the long ride ahead of him. Now reaching up to 230 kilometres a week on his bike, he’s intent on increasing that number before the challenge begins. With a lot of support from his family, friends, and the Melbourne Market community, we are excited to follow Grant on this momentous journey.

Ingredients

¡ 2 slices sourdough bread

¡ 1-2 tbsp hazelnut butter

¡ 1 KANZI® apple, thinly sliced

¡ 1 tbsp honey

¡ 1 tbsp hazelnuts, roughly chopped

¡ 1⁄2 tsp cinnamon

KANZI® Apple & Hazelnut Toast

Prep: 5 minutes

Serves: 1

“Sweet, tangy KANZI® apples are a match made in heaven for earthy hazelnuts. Add a touch of honey and warm cinnamon and this tastes like a breakfast treat!” – Marie Duong, Eats with Marie

Method

1. Toast slices of bread in a toaster, then spread generously with hazelnut butter.

2. Add a layer of KANZI® apple slices and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and cinnamon. Serve immediately.

Notes:

Almond butter and chopped almonds also taste delicious with KANZI® apples if you cannot find hazelnut butter.

The flesh of a KANZI® is naturally slow to oxidise and stays white for longer than other apple varieties, making them the perfect choice of apple to slice up on toast.

Recipe created by Eats with Marie for KANZI® Apple Australia.

Calendar of Events

Mother’s Day

Sunday, 14th May

Hort Connections

Monday, 5th June —

Wednesday 7th June

King’s Birthday

Monday, 12th June Market closed

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.

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 2022

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 Editor

Fresh State of Affairs Magazine

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