Fresh State of Affairs - Issue #46

46 APR 2019 ISSUE

of affairs

A New Cycle of Sustainability

Locked into Bad Decisions

Melbourne Market Charity Golf Day News

The Rise of VeggiePacked Alternatives

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Contents 04

10

12

4 — Responding to the Australian Recycling Crisis

8 — Providing Fresh Solutions for the Market

12 — Charity Golf Day a Hole in One!

With the recycling crisis in Australia being largely ignored, the produce industry is pushing forward with new ideas for selling produce sustainably.

Find out more about Robinson’s Fresh Solutions — a family business with new services that cover every stage of the logistical chain.

6 — Locked into Bad Decisions

10 — The Cost of the Summer Heatwave

The 2019 Melbourne Market Charity Golf Day was a great success and we look back at all the winners and the worthy cause we were all there supporting.

Market users are once again being trapped by the Melbourne Market Authority’s poor decision making.

After the sweltering heat and unpredictability of the 2019 summer we examine how this impacted our industry.

7 — A Market Visit for the Prime Minister

14 — Around the Market: Golf Edition 16 — Grapefruit Goodness 18 — Pink Grapefruit and Avocado Salad Recipe

During the PM’s market visit in March we took the chance to ask his thoughts on an industry-owned market.

Published By:

CEO: Jason Cooper jason@freshstate.com.au Editor/Advertising: Kate Cook kate@freshstate.com.au

W: freshstate.com.au P: 03 9408 6627 2

Photography: Kate Cook and Alysha Snell

Design & Print:

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

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

President’s Message 16

19 — Will you be the next Winner?

The Melbourne Market Credit Service are rewarding their members with regular prizes drawn from the MMCS users, and it’s been off to a roaring start.

21 — Produce Packed: The Rise of Healthy Alternatives The popularity of fresh fruit and veg keeps growing with a produce packed diet being named the top diet for 2019 and healthy options flooding into stores.

23 — Calendar of Events

A new year always brings changes to the market, and at Fresh State we have been making sure we are on top of everything that 2019 has in store.

As you may have noticed, we have updated the look of this magazine for 2019, and we hope you enjoy this new version of Fresh State of Affairs.

Rest assured that this publication will continue to be a place for Fresh State to inform our diverse readership about the issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry, and give people outside the market a glimpse into market life.

A lot has taken place so far this year: we have coped with the heat of the summer, got to see Prime Minister Scott Morrison visit the market, and were able to come together in support of the annual Melbourne Market Charity Golf Day. Fresh State have also recently held our Special General Meeting, and used this opportunity to work with our members in looking ahead and planning for the continued progression of our organisation. We are committed to always providing our members with the best services, and we know that with your input we will continue to make the Melbourne Market a better environment for the whole community.

Shane Schnitzler President Fresh State Ltd. 3

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Responding to the

Australian Recycling Crisis Sustainability is no joke and the Fresh Produce Industry is taking it seriously — in a country where our attempts at recycling are currently causing immense amounts of waste, it is more important than ever that we make sure we aren’t contributing to this problem.

4

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Almost two years ago, in July 2017, China put a ban on the importation of 24 types of recyclable materials, and the effects of this ban are continuing to hurt Australia’s ability to recycle our rubbish. Due to our state government’s reliance on exporting recycling, Australia has never developed sufficient onshore facilities to take care of matters ourselves. Recyclable materials from businesses and everyday Aussie homes are piling up and joining the landfill queue as we have seemingly nowhere else to turn.

Here at the Melbourne Market, the MMA have generally done a good job handling of the facility’s recycling process, much of which is recycled through Visy here in Australia. But as a market we are accumulating a shocking 981.99 tonnes of polystyrene waste (based on 2017/2018 figures) — the equivalent of 245 Toyota forklifts — that is then shipped over to China to be dealt with. This massive figure is a worry.

If China continues to tighten their restrictions on exported waste we are in trouble; one would certainly hope that the MMA are thinking of a backup plan for this mountain of waste.

The South Australian state government have this year launched a discussion with businesses and individuals on ways to reduce the environmental impact of plastic items that are frequently littered like coffee cups, straws, and plastic bags.

When it comes to the Fresh Produce Industry overall it is clear that sustainability is a top concern. At February’s 2019 Fruit Logistica conference in Berlin there was an unmissable focus on sustainability and the reduction of plastics across the industry. We’ve come a long way from sustainable packaging being the focus of organic produce companies alone, now it is clear that this is a trend that consumers want world-wide. Although this Fruit Logistica conference is held in Berlin, it is a great indicator of global produce trends and it seems like a reduction in plastic packaging and a move to cardboard and other sustainable materials is on the cards.

In fact, this reduction in plastic may be hitting our shores sooner than you think. The South Australian state government have this year launched a discussion with businesses and individuals on ways to reduce the environmental impact of plastic items that are frequently littered like coffee cups, straws, and plastic bags. However, with the rise of home delivery companies such as Uber Eats only increasing in popularity, it is important that all of Australia’s state governments put their own strategies in place soon.

Perhaps it is not a terrible thing that as a country we can no longer export our ridiculous amounts of waste offshore. If the real amount of rubbish we are creating is not seen by the public it will always be harder to turn the tide against single-use plastics. In the war of convenience vs. long term sustainability, a visual reminder about the piles of recycling going to waste is an image very few people can ignore and may create the pressure needed for the state government to prioritize the self-sufficiency of our recycling system.

5

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Locked into Bad Decisions If it weren’t for the restricting and tactless decisions that continue to be made by the Melbourne Market Authority, the similarities between the Melbourne Market and a prison facility would almost be funny.

Looking at these pictures side-by-side the similarities are alarming, but if it was just about looks this could easily be brushed aside. The parallels continue with the guard-like MROs patrolling the buyers walk, and the secured perimeter that prevents anyone entering without the MMA’s knowledge. But the resemblance goes deeper; like an overzealous warden the MMA knows they have a captive audience and are using this to extort the market community.

We have seen small signs of this before, like the kickbacks they have organised off the back of the market’s electricity system and are likely also getting with the diesel station that’s under construction. But the most unmistakable case of this is the recent resurfacing of the MMA’s attempts to raise the cost of leases. The greed of the government authority was clearly shown when they were looking at adding a ridiculous 20% increase to leases last year, but after the market community

6

fought back they reduced this amount to an increase of 4% for 3-year lease holders in August 2018. It seems the MMA have already forgotten the fairness that our leaseholders fought for barely 6 months ago and have reverted to their miserly tactics. In March 2019 they raised the rents of the few leaseholders in the market who had 3.5-year leases by an additional 2.5%, and this is on top of their 4% increase from last year.

Fresh State have already lodged an objection to this unfair rent hike, not only for the obvious increase to the price of doing business but because it puts one set of leaseholders out of step with the rest of the market. It seems that while the market is in the hands of those who only care about the bottomline these bad decisions just keep coming. Perhaps when the state government’s promise to review market operations is finally fulfilled we will see a change for the better? We can only hope.

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

A Market Visit for the Prime Minister Just when it seems like a normal day at the market something is bound to happen to shake things up, and in March we had a bigger shake-up than normal with a visit from the Australian Prime Minister.

On the 14th of March the market was in for a surprise when Scott Morrison decided to visit the Melbourne Market to meet with market users and tour the facility. Wholesalers, retailers, and forklift drivers had the opportunity to shake hands with the Prime Minister as he experienced an early morning at the market. And from this visit it seems that Morrison, along with Katie Allen and Gladys Liu the candidates from Higgins and from Chisholm, gained a healthy respect for the everyday experience of a market worker.

Despite this being an unexpected visit, Fresh State’s President Shane Schnitzler met with the PM during his tour of the facility and took the chance to have a quick chat with him about the market.

The PM praised the Epping market’s cleanliness and professional appearance, but Shane raised

the point that despite these factors we struggle to be competitive with other Australian markets due to the way Epping is being run. They then spoke about the idea of there eventually being no government involvement in the market, and the PM responded positively to this, saying that if that were the case perhaps it could be called “the People’s Market”.

Scott Morrison’s visit to the market may have been intended to promote his government’s support of small and family businesses and their aim to reduce the cost of doing business, but for market users the PM’s acknowledgement of the positive impact of an industry-owned market model is just as important. An industry-owned market model would mean a step toward real progress and making the Melbourne Market competitive once again.

7

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Providing Fresh Solutions for the Market Here at the market it isn’t uncommon to see family businesses working side-by-side, and Robinson’s Fresh Solutions is a classic example of an intergenerational business that is growing in size but keeping true to their values.

Robinsons Unloading has been long-time feature in the Melbourne Market, opening back in the late 1960s.

It was founded by Eric Robinson who saw the need for unloading and delivery services and so — with just one truck and a hand trolley — he created Robinsons.

Today Mark Robinson is at the helm, with experience in interstate transport and a wealth of knowledge from his father he is leading the newly rebranded Robinson’s Fresh Solutions with the help of his wife Di and his hard-working team. With a staffed office from 3am they certainly put customer service first, and they provide contact details for night operations as transporting is the kind of business that doesn’t stop.

8

One thing that shows Robinson’s commitment to their customers clearly is the receiver’s report they put out daily at 4am. This detailed report, that also qualifies as Proof of Delivery, allows customers to easily review deliveries and get in contact with Robinsons directly if anything is in question.

Feedback from this service has been extremely good, Robinsons have even heard of some customers having completed their stocktaking off their receiver’s report because of its reliability.

Robinsons have made their commitment to the market very clear through having transitioned to two market sites, investing into their facilities at Epping,

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

and joining in with market events like the Fresh State Gala Ball. Their knowledge of the market has helped them to anticipate gaps in the industry and offer market users an expanded range of services all under the one brand, Robinson’s Fresh Solutions.

Their new company name encapsulates their range of services; Robinsons are the market agent for CHEP and they have expanded into importing/ exporting, fumigation, and treatment/inspection services. And because they are only a service provider, their customers can be confident that they have no conflicts of interest.

Not only could we tell from one visit to the Robinson’s office that they are a true family business, but also that they have a real heart for what they do and are incredibly generous. As a company they have come up with a great way to support some incredible charity organisations: they advertise charities for free on their trucks, such as the Pancare Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Fight MND, and the Ross Dennerstein Foundation.

Not only could we tell from one visit to the Robinson’s office that they are a true family business, but also that they have a real heart for what they do and are incredibly generous.

Growing as a business comes with its own challenges, and Mark Robinson is open about his company’s measured approach. Expanding their business past unloading involved planning, investing in their facilities, and building a great staff team, and now Mark has full confidence in their new services and has been promoting them increasingly over the last 12 months.

But if you ask Mark and Di what makes Robinsons special, they come back to the company’s connection to their family. As an intergeneration business passed down to Mark and also engaging their own children who are keen to help out at the office, this is truly a family effort. As Mark and Di put it, they also think of their staff team as their extended family, and with that they would like to thank them for their continued efforts, so it truly is one big happy family at Robinsons.

9

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

The Cost of the Summer Heatwave The 2019 summer heatwave that roasted the country early this year may not have been too out of character for Australia, but it definitely hit our agricultural sector hard and caused some unfortunate short-term shortages.

In early March we started to see the consequences of the heatwave — less produce on shelves in supermarkets and greengrocers, certain fruits and vegetables being unavailable entirely for short periods; it was obvious to everyone that the supply of fruit and veg wasn’t at its normal level. This was all down to the unpredictable weather that Australia faced over the early 2019 summer period, where there was not only extreme and but consistent high temperatures as well as floods and freak hailstorms that hurt our crops and caused the temporarily empty shelves.

hot weather, which affected southern Victoria’s key growing regions”. But these shortages on the shelves are predicted to be filled again before long, thankfully the spread of our agricultural industry across the country’s different climate zones will allow other areas to pick up the slack after a bit of time has passed.

In a move welcomed by AUSVEG many supermarkets put up signs explaining the shortages and raised prices, which aligns well with Australian consumer’s desire to have a better understanding of where their food is coming from. Lindhe commented that “there is a growing disconnect between the consumer and the farmer, and any way the retailer can give a consumer a bit more information about what goes into their fruit and veg helps bridge that gap”.

there is a growing disconnect between the consumer and the farmer, and any way the retailer can give a consumer a bit more information about what goes into their fruit and veg helps bridge that gap.

South Australian washed potatoes have been reportedly affected, some stone fruit have been exposed to so much heat they were cooking while still on the tree, and the wine industry has forecast that the Australian grape crush total will, at best, lessen by 5% compared to 2018.

With washed potatoes from SA supplying 80% of the country’s market, and our country being the world’s 6th largest wine exporter, these effects could be devastating to smaller growers.

Meanwhile the translation of the unpredictable summer onto store shelves showed through produce like broccoli, womboks, and cabbages skyrocketing in price, and green beans being shockingly limited in availability. Shaun Lindhe from AUSVEG commented that the weather was clearly to blame; “Our industry is naturally supply and demand driven… What we saw over summer was some very

10

Although we are now on our way out of the volatile summer’s effects, this explanatory move by stores is an important one to note. People want to know where their fruit and veg is coming from but often cannot see the connection between the cause and effect that limits their shopping options. An explanation, whether it be in store by the shelves or online to your consumer base is not an unwelcome move — in fact, it may bolster a brand’s connection with it’s consumers by helping them to feel like they are part of something larger and that they can assist farmers by still purchasing the limited or expensive stock while things get back to normal.

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Our industry is naturally supply and demand driven… What we saw over summer was some very hot weather, which affected southern Victoria’s key growing regions.

11

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Charity Golf Day a Hole in One! This event has all the elements needed for a great day: time outdoors, a community working together, a bit of rivalry and sportsmanship, a chance to win something, and most importantly a cause that everyone can get behind.

In the opinion of many market users there is nothing better than a day on the green, and on the 15th of March our Charity Golf Day at the Heidelberg Golf Course promised exactly that.

With fantastic weather overhead, the day was kicked off with a greeting from the Golf Committee Chairman, Joe Amalfi, who welcomed the players and acknowledged the great cause everyone was helping to support, DEBRA Australia.

DEBRA Australia is a foundation that helps those affected by a painful and life-changing disease 12

called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), and DEBRA family coordinator Simone Baird was kind enough to join us once again to remind us of how valuable this fundraising is. Simone’s daughter Eliza grew up with EB, and the struggles of this disease were something she had to watch her daughter go through every day. Eliza sadly passed away in 2017 before her 18th birthday. Simone’s story is touching and her own continued hard work with DEBRA is a great testament to the importance of this charity.

The knowledge of this worthy cause helped to spur

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

this day to success, as did the community spirit of the golf teams that attended the event and the many volunteers from the Melbourne Market Lions Club, DEBRA, and Fareshare who helped to run the day. The players’ generosity and their competitive spirit came out in full force for the Nearest to the Pin and the Putting competition, as well as the CHEP Chipping Competition where accuracy was key. But the winners of the overall golf competition were the team from Toyota Material Handling, made up of Ray Derozario, Andrew Hopkins, Tom Machar, and Matt Godfrey.

Although the golf is always a central focus of this event, there was more excitement to come once the competition was over. Guests were treated to an extremely exciting giant raffle draw — with a prize pool of over $40,000, everyone holding a ticket in their hand felt they could walk home a lucky winner. The largest raffle prize, a brand-new Fiat 500, ended up going home with Paul Pavlou, Mr Fresh himself, so we would like to congratulate him on this great win.

Unfortunately not everyone could be so lucky, but looking around the room it was clear that every guest was enjoying the fun and excitement.

Everyone who bought a ticket, attended the event, or contributed in some way should be proud to know that a total of almost $110,000 was raised on the day, and that will all go toward helping those with EB and making their life a little bit easier.

Winners: Golf Competition — Toyota Material Handling team (Ray Derozario, Andrew Hopkins, Tom Machar, Matt Godfrey) Nearest to the Pin — Angelo Telefono, “Mandrakes”, Castagna Steel team CHEP Chipping — Wayne Baird, DEBRA team Putting Competition — Steve Dundon, Timeless Watches team Longest Drive — Adrian Pappas, “Pebbles”, Tony Carafa and Sons

Overall Golf Competition winners for 2019 from Toyota Material Handling: Andrew Hopkins, Tom Machar, Ray DeRozario, & Matthew Godfrey.

13

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Around the Market:

Golf Edition We would like to thank the following Sponsors for their support and assistance with the Melbourne Market Charity Golf Day: The Melbourne Market Lions Club, Fresh State, Toyota Material Handling, The Melbourne Market Authority, BMW, Provincia Food Store, CHEP, Zagame Automotive, Montague, Perfection Fresh Aus., Ringwood House of Golf, Timeless Watches, Art and Style, Quest Epping, 3 Point Motors, Cobra Puma Golf, DEBRA Australia, Mark Walkley, Rick Brockwell, David Whitchelo, Dimattina Coffee, Georges Restaurant Camberwell, Fareshare, Melbourne Zoo, Il Gambero Carlton, Lamaro’s Hotel South Melbourne, LaManna and Sons, Bertocchi, Hell of the North Fitzroy, Fiorelli Camberwell, Mario’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria Broadbeach, Australian Pacific Touring, and the Heidelberg Golf Course.

14

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

15

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

16

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Grapefruit Goodness You have probably heard many people claim that different fruit or vegetables are “superfoods”, but one fruit you can be sure fits in this category is the grapefruit. With a range of health benefits and different varieties they will keep you going strong all year round, just like they do!

There are many things known about the grapefruit, but one thing that remains unknown is whether it was created deliberately or by accident. As a hybrid fruit, the grapefruit species was made from combining the pomelo fruit and the orange sometime after 1693 when pomelo seeds were brought from the East Indies to the West Indies. The grapefruit is botanically considered a berry, and its name comes from the way it grows — like grapes, the grapefruit also grows in bunches.

When it was first discovered it was known by a few names, such as the “forbidden fruit” and the “smaller shaddock”, the latter name coming from the captain of the ship who transported grapefruit seeds to the area.

Here in Australia we are one of the leading grapefruit cultivators, along with Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, South America, South Africa, Israel, and India. These areas are well suited to growing grapefruit orchards as they need warm climates to stay healthy and produce the best fruit. When grapefruits are ripe they will be firm and springy, and although colour is not always the most direct sign of ripeness they usually are fully ripened when their peel has turned mostly yellow or pink. One of the other ways to judge the perfect grapefruit is through its weight, as the heavier this fruit is the juicier it will be when eaten.

These days the grapefruit is mostly known for its health properties, being one of those useful fruit which has been heralded as a “superfood”, as it contains many great health benefits within its pink,

red, or white interiors. Not only is it 92% water, which gives it the ranking of having one of the highest water contents of any fruit, but the average grapefruit also contains about 72mg of Vitamin C which amounts to 120% of your recommended daily intake — a little extra doesn’t hurt!

Although the flesh of the grapefruit is the most appealing with its bright colours and juicy appearance, make sure you don’t throw away the white flesh around it (known as the pith) as this has its own health benefits. The white pith of a grapefruit is rich in antioxidants, fibre, and also nutrients, and has the added benefit of making you feel fuller for longer which is helpful in creating a natural appetite suppressant.

The grapefruit is a fruit that is eaten and loved internationally, but also tends to be used in a variety of ways. In Haiti the locals commonly make juices or even jams from their grapefruits, while in Costa Rica’s city of Atenas they cook the flesh of the fruit to remove its sourness and create delicious sweets. There have also been some strange medical practises associated with the grapefruit, such as eating it to help recover from a fever, drinking its juices as a liver tonic, and also placing it on external wounds as a natural antiseptic!

The options available to you with this fruit are endless, as are the many health benefits that come with them, so do yourself a favour today and grab a grapefruit from your local greengrocer today!

17

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Pink grapefruit and avocado salad This beautiful healthy salad combines tangy citrus, rich avocado, and bright leafy greens with seared prawn for a fresh take on a simple salad.

Ingredients

Preparation

Salad

1. Scoop

¡¡ 1/2 grapefruit ¡¡ 1 avocado ¡¡ 50g mixed greens ¡¡ 100g peeled prawns ¡¡ Olive oil ¡¡ 1 clove of garlic, crushed

Dressing ¡¡ 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest ¡¡ 1 tbsp lemon juice ¡¡ 3 tbsp olive oil ¡¡ 1/2 tsp of honey ¡¡ Salt and pepper 18

the flesh from the avocado skin and cut into lengthways slices.

2. Remove

the skin from the grapefruit and cut the flesh into segments.

3. Heat

olive oil in a skillet pan and toss the prawns for about 3–5 minutes, or until they are orange in colour.

Add garlic after 2–3 minutes.

4. To

prepare the dressing: in a small bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, and oil until the honey dissolves. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

5. To

serve: start with leafy greens in the bowl or on a serving platter, scatter the grapefruit, avocado, and prawns, and drizzle dressing over the top.

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Will you be the next Winner?

With the MMCS’s latest reward program for its members, every company that uses the credit service is in the running to take home a prize.

Early in 2018 the MMCS ran a coffee promotion that gave back to their users through rewarding them for using the credit system with free coffees from participating café’s in the market. Now in 2019 there is a new and upgraded rewards program that any user of the credit service is in the draw to win.

The MMCS has committed to a monthly raffle and a quarterly raffle until June 2019 that both come with significant prizes. Each of our monthly winners will take home a $250 Dining Gift Voucher, and each quarterly winner will receive a Luxury Accommodation Voucher to the value of $1,200! As the number of entries each company gets is based on their through-put with the

Above: Chris Mertikas from Louis Melbourne.

MMCS, all you have to do to earn extra entries in the draw is increase the amount your company puts through the credit service.

The first two winners of the Monthly Prize were drawn on the Buyer’s Walk in the Market, and it was Louis Melbourne who took home the very first monthly prize in January, followed by the second monthly prize in February which went to Aumanns of Warrandyte.

With this kind of promotion anyone could walk home a winner, so make sure you keep an eye out for the MMCS staff on the Buyers Walk when they are conducting their draws — who knows, the next winner could be you!

Above: John Cappellini from Aumanns of Warrandyte.

19

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Produce Packed:

The Rise of Healthy Alternatives The popularity of produce filled diets is only growing and it shows, in early 2019 the Mediterranean diet was been crowned the best diet of the year and our major supermarkets are continually increasing their alternative options.

Since your school days you have probably heard that you should be eating about 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit every day, and finally it seems that diet trends are starting to reflect that recommendation. It’s a positive move that discourages the unhealthy “starve-yourselfskinny” diets like the 5:2 diet and major calorie restrictions, and instead focuses on what you are eating overall and finding balance.

In early 2019 this trend was reflected in the Mediterranean diet being voted the Best Overall Diet for the year, and it also took top spot in several smaller categories such as the Best Diet for Healthy Eating, Best Plant-Based Diet, Best Diet for Diabetes, and Easiest Diet to Follow.

The central message of the Mediterranean Diet,

20

which has always been a core element of traditional Mediterranean cooking, is that fruit and veg are king and need to be the base of your diet. This diet focuses on fruit and vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, and seeds, and — as any Nonna would tell you — a good dollop of extra virgin olive oil.

Red meat does appear at times, but it is not meant to be the central element of a dish, instead it’s just one of many flavours — however, fish is an often-used ingredient.

Studies conducted on this diet have found that it is capable of reducing the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol, while it also can be a preventative for dementia, memory loss, depression, and breast cancer. And of course, there is also the added benefit of weight loss on top of all that.

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

The popularity of this diet isn’t surprising when you look at recent consumer tendencies when buying fresh fruit and vegetables, and also the rise of vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Veganism in particular is skyrocketing in popularity, and Australia has been reported by Euromonitor as the third-fastest growing vegan market globally. With the increased concern over humanity’s effect on the environment only rising, it is no wonder that people are seeking diets that they perceive to do less harm overall.

This increased interest in Veganism is clearly getting through to the major players in the supermarket industry, with Coles and Woolworths both predicted to continue increasing their vegan/vegetarian options in 2019. Woolworth’s

Senior Nutritionist, Natalie Chong, has said that Woolworths “have seen a double digit increase in demand for vegan products in the past year, and are working to create even more choice and variety for our customers”. As for Coles, in 2018 they launched their frozen vegan-ready meals, and with the increased interest are likely to follow Woolworth’s in growing their range of vegan offerings.

The public’s interest in fresh fruit and vegetables and making these a base element of their daily diets is a sign of good things to come for the fruit and vegetable industry, as this trend seems to only be increasing in popularity and leading Aussie families toward healthier lifestyles.

21

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

22

ISSUE 46 — APR 2019

Calendar of Events Friday 19 th of April — Good Friday, public holiday (market closed)

Saturday 20th of April — Easter Saturday, public holiday (market closed)

Monday 22nd of April — Easter Monday, public holiday (market closed)

Thursday 25th of April — Anzac Day, public holiday (market closed)

Sunday 12 th of May — Mother’s Day

Monday 10 th of June — Queen’s Birthday, public holiday

24th – 26th of June — Hort Connections: Melbourne Convention Centre

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 2019 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 Store 36, Melbourne Market 35 Produce Drive, Epping, VIC 3076 23