Fresh State of Affairs Issue #44

2018

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IS LABOR HOLDING THE MARKET BACK?

issue 44 oct 2018 ISSN: 1838-7829

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IS LABOR HOLDING THE MARKET BACK?

It seems like a change of OF AFFAIRS leadership is long overdue.

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FRESH STATE GALA BALL OF 2018 AFFAIRS

ROSS BARKER: 50 YEARS IN THE MARKET

All the details and winners from our successful industry night last month.

We take a look at Ross Barker’s life and input into our industry.

CONTENTS

ADVERTISING

03 President’s Message 04 Is Labour Holding the Market Back?

08 Motta Asparagus Auction 10 NHVR: Who is Responsible Now? 12 Gala Ball Pictures 17 In-Store Tech: The New Way to Shop 18 Chillies 20 Featured Recipe: Zucchini Salad with

14 Mr Fresh 15 Toyota Material Handling 16 Melbourne Insurance Brokers / Fresh State Gas Station

26 The Atlantic Group / KB Building Services 27 Melbourne Markets Credit Service 28 CHEP

Spicy Chicken and Grilled Mango

21 MMA Emergency Procedures: Not Up to Scratch

22 Produce in Disguise

PUBLISHED BY:

freshstate.com.au tel: 03 9408 6627

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Jason Cooper jason@freshstate.com.au

DESIGN: Flying Dog Designs fddesigns.com.au

PRINT: Revolution Print revolutionprint.com.au

EDITOR / ADVERTISING: Kate Cook comms@freshstate.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY: Kate Cook

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

PROOFING: Ana Itsines ana@freshstate.com.au

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s ’ t n e Presid MESSAGE

Welcome to issue #44 of Fresh State of Affairs. As the sun starts to rise on our summer season, we are looking towards the end of the year and starting to think about everything the New Year has in store for the market.

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N this issue we consider the concerns about the Melbourne Market Authority that all market users are facing, and the opportunity to respond to these issues through the upcoming state election.

year’s event so make sure to keep an eye out for further announcements.

We are also looking forward to seeing all of our members soon at the Fresh State Annual General Meeting on Wednesday the 24th of October at the Food Fellas café on the buyers walk.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY MANY ISSUES THAT FRESH STATE ARE DEALING WITH ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR MEMBERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS. With the Fresh State Gala Ball recently behind us, I would like to congratulate again all of the individuals and businesses that received one of the Fresh State awards. The night was a roaring success and we are proud to have hosted such a successful industry event that everyone could enjoy. We are already beginning to plan next

There are currently many issues that Fresh State are dealing with on behalf of all of our members, and we want to make sure you have all the facts as they develop so this issue is packed with updates to keep you in the loop!

Shane Schnitzler President Fresh State Ltd.

In this edition you will find information on the now annual Motta Asparagus Charity Auction, as well as details on the new National Heavy Vehicle Register laws regarding the chain of responsibility, which came into effect on the 1st of October.

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 2018 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

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In the wake of the vote of no confidence submitted by the members of Fresh State in July, there was an initial response from the current government to the issues facing wholesalers, however, little has come of their promises.

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HAT has remained constant is the insufficient ability of the Melbourne Market Authority to run this market properly and deal with tenants’ concerns, to the point where something needs to be done and the upcoming election is the first place we need to act.

After Fresh State members came together in July to submit the vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the MMA board, Peter Tuohey, and the MMA CEO, Mark Maskiell, Fresh State have since met with the Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford.

Although this meeting took some time to happen, it came with the assurance that market rents would be rising for tenants on 3-year store leases, by 4% in the first-year compounding annually, combined with yet another ratchet clause in subsequent years to deal with. This amount is still double the rate that CPI is increasing, yet even Jaala Pulford was more comfortable with the increase as it is “quite a lot less than the original point of concern,” which had resulted from the MMA’s original and inaccurate valuation.

However, the Minister for Agriculture was quick to voice her “confidence” in the MMA when asked about the situation at the markets, and has promised that a review of market operations will be conducted soon. This promise of a review was perfectly timed, as barely a day later the MMA showed their true colours once again by sending out a targeted email to the market users who had signed the vote of no confidence. This email shockingly addressed the signees directly, and there was no mistaking the MMA’s attempt to make wholesalers feel uncomfortable about expressing their opinions in the future. The email continued on with the pretence of addressing the issues that led to the vote of no confidence, however in doing so the MMA revealed once again that they don’t care for true facts, as they used half-truths to shift the blame in any other direction.

With a governing body that openly uses bullying tactics such as these, it comes as a surprise that these are the people who have the minister’s “confidence”. And as for the market review, it has been at best delayed and at worst has not been started at all. Before any work on

WHOLESALERS HAVE BEEN PUSHED AROUND ENOUGH

BY THE MMA, AND THIS ADDITIONAL DELAY TO ANY KIND OF EXAMINATION OF THEIR INCOMPETENCE IS DEVASTATING FOR MARKET USERS WHO ARE HANGING ON BY A THREAD.

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the review can begin, the terms of reference which define ‘the scope and limitations of an activity of area of knowledge’ need to be decided on, and these are still nowhere to be found.

Wholesalers have been pushed around enough by the MMA, and this additional delay to any kind of examination of their incompetence is devastating for market users who are hanging on by a thread.

while still understanding how their decisions will affect the market as a whole cannot be understated.

With current issues still ongoing, perhaps it is time to remove the government shackles holding the Melbourne Market back and keeping it in the shadow of the other Australian markets.

With the upcoming state election in November this year, and in light of Fresh State members having The relocation to the no confidence in the Epping Market facility market’s governing IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BEST RESULT body, it is clear that was supposed to be a move in the right the best result for FOR THE MARKET WOULD BE direction, yet instead it the market would has turned out to be a be the removal of THE REMOVAL OF THE LABOR nose-dive into trouble the Labor government for the lease-holders from power. It GOVERNMENT FROM POWER. at the market. Many would be to the market users are now benefit of wholesale looking outside of the market or hoping for a change tenants, growers, retailers, and the consumer for the in market ownership to turn things around.

Melbourne Market to finally be able to flourish, and a change in leadership would lead the charge for us In the last 31 years the Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, to step into the future of the market industry like the Newcastle, and Sydney Markets have all made the rest of the markets around Australia. change from government ownership to private ownership, with Melbourne the only outstanding exception. The value of having shareholders who know the industry and who can think big picture

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GALA BALL 2018

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T is no wonder that so many people from our industry return each year to come together at the Fresh State Gala Ball, and the turnout for 2018 was no different.

On the 1st of September we not only kicked off the month but kicked up our heels at the Peninsula in Docklands, where there was the highest attendance at the event so far, and a great atmosphere of comradery and cheer.

The annual Fresh State Gala Ball has become a highlight of the year for so many members of the Melbourne Market, and walking into the foyer of the Peninsula at Docklands it was clear to see that this year had gathered a stellar turnout once again.

With drinks upon entry, canapes, and wonderful displays from our sponsors the room was abuzz with excitement.

With a theme of fireworks, the night featured sparks of colour everywhere you looked. The event was officially opened by Fresh State CEO, Jason

Cooper, as MC and later Fresh State President, Shane Schnitzler, announced the much coveted awards for the night including Wholesale Business of the Year, Young Marketeer of the Year, Buyer of the Year, and Market Personality of the Year. These awards are provided

by Fresh State but are voted by the Fresh State members to recognise all of the hard work that goes into working in the market community throughout the year.

After the formalities were over, guests enjoyed the live band Rockefeller who got the dancefloor moving and everyone to their feet, swapping their usual high-vis for delicious food, fun, and frivolity.

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GALA BALL award winners The award winners on the night were: LaManna Premier for Wholesale Business of the Year, Phil Stilo from Mildura Fresh for Young Marketeer of the Year, Biviano Direct for Buyer of the Year, and Michael Motta from Fresh Growers for the Market Personality of the Year award.

BUYER OF THE YEAR: BIVIANO DIRECT

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It was an absolute honour to win buyer of the Year! It is great to be recognised for all the hard work and effort that goes into Biviano Direct and we look forward to hopefully doing it all again.

There was one more award given out on the night, or perhaps you might say two, as this year the “This is Your Life” award was was presented to Con Karanicolos and Chris Mertikas. Guests on the night got to see a brief look into Con and Chris’ childhoods and upbringing, as well as how they met and built up their business Louis Melbourne into what it is today.

YOUNG MARKETEER OF THE YEAR: PHIL STILO

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– John Biviano (Biviano Direct)

WHOLESALE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: LAMANNA PREMIER

It’s a very satisfying feeling to win such an award... to be recognised by our peers in the industry and people we look up to as mentors and leaders is a reward in itself.

– Phil Stilo (Mildura Fresh)

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This award is validation of the hard work and effort our market team puts in. Our Melbourne market team strives to be the best by going above and beyond – this award provides recognition of that.

– Steve Skruzny (LaManna Premiere)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE RECIPIENTS: CHRIS MERTIKAS (LEFT) & CON KARANICOLOS (RIGHT) WITH THEIR FAMILIES

MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL MOTTA

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To win the award was a fantastic honour, to know that I was nominated by the community that I have been involved in for 31 years is amazing. I was truly speechless and if you know me that is a rarity.

– Michael Motta (Motta Produce)

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The highlight of the night was being part of an industry event that has grown from mainly Fresh State members to a wonderful larger industry leading event …

Well done Fresh State!

– Con Karanicolos (Louis Melbourne)

FRESH STATE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

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2 ASPARAGUS AUCTION nd

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GROWING IN

GENEROSITY ANNUAL ASPARAGUS SEASON LAUNCH AND CHARITY AUCTION For the second year in a row the market has come together for a great cause in support of the Motta Produce Asparagus Auction, which not only opened the season for asparagus but once again raised money for the Epilepsy Foundation.

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OSTED by Mick Motta of Motta Produce, and with the support of his business partner Alan Favero, the now annual Asparagus Auction was held on the 30th of August at the Fresh Growers store in the Melbourne Market. With a BBQ style spread, refreshments supplied by Frank Bugge from Big Valley, and the promise of a good cause, the auction kicked off at 5am. The prize on offer for the highest bidder was the first 3kg box of white asparagus for the season.

Winning bidder David Goffman (Gibb Brothers Farming), Brandon Motta, Paul Palma (The Merchant), and Mick Motta.

There were even some non-locals who flew in especially for the event to show their support, such as David Goffman from Gibb Brothers Farming in QLD and Frank Lemdell from Lemdell in Sydney.

This box of white asparagus had only been gathered a day or two earlier, with those picking it walking 1.5km to collect it all, so the box of white asparagus was made very fresh but in the end it came right down to the wire. This white asparagus was grown in Koo Wee Rup under the area’s ideal conditions, where roughly 90% of all Australian grown asparagus comes from. Unlike your regular asparagus, the white asparagus used in the Motta Produce auction was grown in igloos to deprive them of light, a process called etiolation, which creates the fascinating white colouring of the vegetable.

Joffa’s jackets with the White Asparagus.

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This event has taken a cause that is This year’s auction followed in the close to Michael Motta’s heart and the footsteps of its inaugural beginning, season opening of a vegetable that has and due to the outstanding support built his family business over the last and donations of last year, the event 30 years, and harmoniously combined was even attended by the CEO of the the two. With family members directly Epilepsy Foundation Graeme Shears affected by epilepsy, an often hidden and notable head of the Collingwood condition, it is no wonder the support cheer squad and Epilepsy Foundation of programs to help those dealing ambassador Joffa Corfe. with the condition is a priority for THIS EVENT HAS TAKEN A CAUSE THAT Michael. He even put in the time to IS CLOSE TO MICHAEL MOTTA’S HEART handcraft the box AND THE SEASON OPENING OF A that the asparagus was presented in, VEGETABLE THAT HAS BUILT HIS FAMILY and emblazoned BUSINESS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND it with the HARMONIOUSLY COMBINED THE TWO. Motta Produce logo showing his personal There were many individual donations commitment to even the smallest even before the auction began, details of the event. coming from market businesses With the significant donations from last including Fresh State and the year’s event going towards the Epilepsy Melbourne Market Authority who each Smart Schools program and those donated $5,000, and from businesses donations alone putting the program a outside the market like Fresh Express in whole year ahead of schedule, Michael WA who donated a significant $10,000 and all of Motta Produce must be to the cause. proud of what this event has become.

Mick Motta Senior conducting the auction.

But it was David Goffman from Gibb Brothers Farming who won the coveted asparagus in the end, with a bid of $16,000 which just beat Paul Palma from The Merchant. With an incredible final result of $132,714 raised for the Epilepsy Foundation the team at Motta Produce are sure to be proud, as should be the rest of the market for their kindness and generosity.

THANK YOU Motta Produce and the Epilepsy Foundation would like to thank everyone who attended the charity auction for their hospitality and generosity with this event. The funds from this year’s auction will help the Epilepsy Foundation expand the Smart Schools program through a national rollout. Every child with epilepsy deserves the opportunity to reach their full academic potential and the Smart Schools Program and your generosity will allow them to do this.

You have made a big difference to the lives of people living with epilepsy as these funds will support us in getting our Epilepsy Smart Programs out to everyone who needs them.

A magnificent effort by all involved.

Graeme Shears, CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation You can learn more about the Smart Schools program by visiting: epilepsysmartschools.org.au

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WHO NOW? IS RESPONSIBLE

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Now is the time to act – the National Heavy Vehicle Register (NHVR) has changed their rules regarding the Chain of Responsibility within the transport industry, and to make sure your staff and business are protected from possible breaches and liability you need to make sure you are complying with their new legislation.

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N October 1st some changes to the Nation Heavy Vehicle Register’s rules surrounding the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) were put in place that will affect everyone involved either directly or indirectly in the transport industry. These changes concern the assignment of responsibility for offences that occur through pressures being put on the transport industry, and will hold the sources of this pressure responsible for the stress and consequences caused.

The NHVR identifies these stresses as coming from actions, inactions, demands, and requests from offroad parties which then pressure the transport industry to go outside of safety guidelines to fulfill what is being asked.

Off-road parties include executive officers, employers, consignees, consigners, loaders and unloaders, loading managers, local government, operators, packers, primary producers, contractors, and schedulers.

The length of the list of parties considered responsible by the NHVR for pressuring the transport industry reveals the extent of the effects that their new legislation will have – in short, anyone involved in any step of goods transportation can now be held responsible if not compliant with these new laws. This move to expand the CoR is aimed at comprehensively

retraining the industry as a whole to remove dangers by focusing on changing behaviour, particularly with off-road parties and the pressure they can put on drivers.

These changes will directly affect those of us within the market. For example, if you own a wholesale business and your forklift driver doesn’t fulfill all their safety requirements, you could then be held responsible for not adequately training your staff to do their job properly. Or perhaps you order produce from Sydney and tell them you need it by the end of the day even though you know this transport would usually take longer. In this situation you are putting unnecessary pressure on the transportation staff

IF YOU HAVE THE POWER TO EXERT CONTROL OR INFLUENCE OVER TRANSPORTING TASKS THEN YOU NEED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR ACTIONS COMPLY WITH THE CHAIN OF RESPONSBILITY.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW NHVR CHAIN OF RESPONSIBILITY between Sydney and Melbourne by asking them to rush to get you your order in time, so now you can be held responsible if any consequences occur because of this pressure.

So what should you do to protect your business and workers? Look at your safety management system and focus on areas of fatigue management, the maintenance of heavy vehicles, load restraints, mass management, speed management, and drug and alcohol management. For more information, the NHVR have documents on their website specifically addressing different groups of responsible members across the transport industry.

Overall, the message is that if you have the power to exert control or influence over transporting tasks then you need to ensure that your actions comply with the CoR, your workers are following all safety regulations, and that you are not placing pressure on anyone to work outside of safe practices.

The transport of our products is such an important factor to the Melbourne Market and although these new rules broaden the scope of who can be held responsible, they are focused on the safety of drivers and the safety of your workers and cannot be ignored.

LOOK AT YOUR SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND FOCUS ON AREAS OF FATIGUE MANAGEMENT, THE MAINTENANCE OF HEAVY VEHICLES, LOAD RESTRAINTS, MASS MANAGEMENT, SPEED MANAGEMENT, AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL MANAGEMENT.

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FRESH STATE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

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2018

y r t s t u h d g n i i n r r u u O O

FRESH STATE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS:

GOLD SPONSORS

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MR FRESH

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2018

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GET THE TOYOTA FORKLIFT ADVANTAGE

• New and used forklift sales • Short and long term forklift rentals • All forklift service and parts

1800 425 438 www.toyotamaterialhandling.com.au

Proud sp onsors of the Fresh State G ala Ball

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Update in Rental Bond required?

We understand the MMA may have or is about to increase rental agreements; if this impacts you & you hold a Rental Bond with us, simply let us know the revised rental amount & we will provide an updated certificate of currency to the MMA. Of course we also assist with any of your other insurance requirements including cover for your: Liability – Public & Products Property & other assets Forklift, buggy & all motor vehicles Travel insurance for you & your staff Investment property Cyber protection Home & contents We look after the boring (but necessary) stuff so you don’t have to!

MARK PERREE CONTACT ME OR MY TEAM WHEN GAS CONVENIENT TO FIND OUT MORE:

STATION

mark@mibrokers.com.au

0412 707 701 03 9686 0688

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FILL UP YOUR FORKS AT THE FRESH STATE GAS STATION AND SUPPORT YOUR INDUSTRY FRESH STATE GAS STATION Market Box 36, Melbourne Market Adjacent to Southern Truck Loading Zone Badalya Road Epping VIC 3076 T: 03 9401 4615 F: 03 9408 5463 W: freshstate.com.au

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IN-STORE TECH: THE NEW WAY TO SHOP With technology advancing faster than ever, there is no doubt it will continue to affect our industry and change the way we think about and market our produce to consumers, not only in Australia but around the world. But where is the tech up to now?

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T is no secret that the internet and online shopping have caused many of the technological developments affecting our industry; customers want convenience, they want to be able to get exactly what they want quickly and easily. This perspective is what technological innovators in our industry are attempting to access in order to make the process of (1) shopping in a store just as easy as shopping online.

Major chains are spearheading these advancements; one example is Amazon’s pioneer store ‘Amazon Go’.

With trial locations in Seattle, these new stores have no checkout lines: users access an app, collect their products, and Amazon’s technology detects products being removed from shelves and stores them in a virtual shopping cart, allowing the customer to (2) leave without having to join a queue. Once they leave, the Amazon Go system automatically deducts their total purchase from their account for seamless convenience.

This is not just happening in the US, Woolworths has just begun trialing a similar endeavor in Sydney’s Double Bay, using an app that allows customers to scan items as they shop, and then perform one (3) final scan before they leave so they can skip the lines entirely.

(4)

(5)

Moving another step away from traditional stores, Auchan Retail China has partnered with Hisense to create Auchan Minute stores that are the size of a shipping container, fully automated, controlled through your smart phone, and can be placed throughout urban and suburban areas for convenient access to fresh produce and non-food items 24/7.

Aside from queue skipping innovations, customers are also gaining extra convenience through the rise of meal kits such as Hello Fresh and Marley Spoon.

These kits target consumers that are interested in advancing their cooking skills, getting convenient and fresh produce, and reducing food waste with pre-portioned ingredients for their recipes.

Although all these technological advancements are decreasing how long customers spend in stores, what seems to be missed is finding a way to enhance the convenience of information to allow customers to know more about the produce they are buying and where it comes from. Now may be the perfect time to invest in ways to teach consumers how to make a better choice when buying their fresh fruit and vegetables.

CUSTOMERS WANT CONVENIENCE, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT QUICKLY AND EASILY.

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Everyone likes to spice up their life with something new, but the spiciest of plants is something that is far from a new discovery.

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HE Chilli is endlessly popular across the globe with a quarter of the world’s population consuming them each day, and it also is known for its medicinal and weightloss associations, as well as its reputation with daredevil food competitors.

Archaeologists can trace the first uses of chilli in domestic life back to 5000 BC, so it is fair to say that this plant has been in common use for a very long time. The plant originates from Mesoamerica, an area stretching from Central Mexico to Central America, and they are a member of the capsicum family. Their ancient origins are reflected in their name, with “chilli” being derived from a language called Nahuatl, which was used by the Aztecs.

It has long been believed that the chilli is an aphrodisiac, and that its heat can ignite peoples’ passions. Because of this myth, the use of chilli is often followed by sexual innuendo and has led to a culture of eating contests with hotter and hotter chillies being eaten to prove a person’s masculinity.

Today these eating contests have reached fearless levels that would cause physical harm to any normal person who attempted them.

The hottest chilli in the world is known as the “Carolina Reaper” and it is ranked at 1,569,300 in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), a unit that measures spiciness through the intensity of capsaicinoids in the pepper. The next chilli on the hotly contested

THEIR ANCIENT ORIGINS ARE REFLECTED IN THEIR NAME, WITH “CHILLI” BEING DERIVED FROM A LANGUAGE CALLED NAHUATL, WHICH WAS USED BY THE AZTECS.

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CHILLIES CAN BE FOUND ON THE BUYERS WALK AT: MILDURA FRESH MARKETING, MOUNTAIN FRESH WHOLESALE, FERRINDA FRESH, LAMANNA PREMIER, G FERLAZZO & CO, AND LATORRE’S FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WHOLESALERS.

leader board is the “Trinidad Moruga Scorpion”, a chilli so fiery that it can soak through latex gloves and onto the hands of harvesters.

As for the benefits of the chilli, in ancient times they were used by the Aztecs and Mayans for flavouring their food and for fumigating houses, and also as medicine.

Nowadays there are differing reports, but the chilli is said to assist with burning extra calories through raising the body’s core temperature during digestion, as well as

THE HOTTEST CHILLI IN THE WORLD IS KNOWN AS THE “CAROLINA REAPER” AND IT IS RANKED AT 1,569,300 IN SCOVILLE HEAT UNITS (SHU), A UNIT THAT MEASURES SPICINESS THROUGH THE INTENSITY OF CAPSAICINOIDS IN THE PEPPER.

helping to unblock your sinuses and reduce congestion. They are also rich in antioxidants, can release good endorphins, and be a pain inhibitor as the high consumption of chillies can damage pain receptors and desensitise you to their heat along with the pain of acid reflux and heart burn. Unfortunately, this heat resistance doesn’t seem to be a permanent effect and tends to reverse itself if you stop eating them for 1-3 days.

The chilli pepper is a plant that seems to have many features that are unknown to most people. Although the orange is the fruit most commonly said to have high levels of vitamin C, chillies have a higher count of the vitamin, but then again less people would eat a chilli the way they would an orange.

Another lesser known fact is that the plant’s heat is actually a defence mechanism; the spice of chillies keeps away bugs that create holes in their skin, allowing fungus to ruin the plant. Unlike humans and bugs, birds are immune to this spiciness, and by scattering the seeds they are the reason that wild chillies have spread as far as they have.

Despite us not being immune to the spicy heat of the chilli, the flavours that they can add to so many different recipes is definitely a selling point, and a great way to liven up your daily meals!

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FRESH ZUCCHINI SALAD WITH SPICY CHICKEN AND GRILLED MANGO Hot, sunny weather and tropical salads go hand in hand. Celebrate summer with a refreshing combination of zucchini, capsicum, spicy chicken, and mango – a salad packed with mouth watering and surprising fl􀂢avours.

Zucchini is served raw in this salad making it wonderfully juicy and fresh. Grilling the mango highlights its natural sweetness by caramelising the sugars.

The salad is 􀂡finished with complementary flavours like lime, mint, and chilli, giving it a real tropical burst.

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

> 4 zucchinis

> Place the chicken breasts in a bowl and coat with a generous amount of sweet chilli sauce. Finely slice the garlic and red chillies and mix well with the chicken. Leave in the fridge for 1 hour to marinate.

> 4 limes > 4 chicken breasts > 2 mangoes > 3 red capsicums > 2 red chillies > Sea salt > Black pepper > 3 cloves garlic > Sweet chilli sauce > 1 handful fresh mint MAKES 4 Serves TIME 60 minutes

> Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Place chicken breasts on a lined baking tray and roast in the oven for 40 minutes. > Coarsely grate zucchini and combine with the juice of 4 limes. Add some sea salt and black pepper to taste. > Peel and slice mangoes into large slices. Place slices on an oiled grill, turning once, until lightly browned on each side. > Slice capsicum (bell pepper) finely.

Remove chicken from oven and slice fillets into thin strips. > Divide zucchini onto four plates to create a bed for the salad. Place the sliced mango, chicken strips and capsicum on top. > Tear mint leaves apart and sprinkle over dishes.

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MMA

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

H C T A R C S O T NOT UP If you were at the Melbourne Market on the 22nd of August at 10am you would have witnessed how an emergency response situation to an “intruder on premises” would be handled, and the response was dangerously disappointing.

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LL workplaces need to have in place emergency response procedures so if an issue like a fire, natural disaster, or medical emergency occurs then staff will be kept safe. The MMA’s drill disappointingly did the opposite to this and put all those at the market at risk instead.

During the drill, everyone on site was required to vacate their secure offices and make their way to the flower market across the empty expanse of the

the goal with active armed offenders in crowded places (like the market at peak times), is to minimise “the offender’s access to potential victims”.

The Melbourne Market Authority seemed to understand this in principal, but made a mess of the execution by refraining from telling staff where the “intruder” was located so that they could be avoided, and having the entire market gather together in a single area.

Once at the flower market, the MMA only half completed the drill as there

EVERYONE ON SITE WAS REQUIRED TO VACATE THEIR SECURE OFFICES AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FLOWER MARKET ACROSS THE EMPTY EXPANSE OF THE CARPARK. IN SHORT, IF A VIOLENT INTRUDER HAD ACTUALLY BEEN AROUND WE ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING DUCKS!

carpark. In short, if a violent intruder had actually been around we all would have been sitting ducks.

Normal practice with a potentially violent intruder is to implement a lockdown, which keeps staff hidden in a secure environment. The Australia New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee states that

was no attempt to secure the building; the automatic doors were not disabled and the roller doors were left open so that those inside had only a thin sheet of plastic between them and the “intruder”. There were also not nearly enough MRO’s participating in this drill to handle an emergency if it had been peak hour at the market.

The question on our mind is whether the MMA will be ready if another emergency event occurs like the notorious buggy fire that took place on the buyer’s walk last year.

In the MMA’s ‘Emergency Guidebook for Tenants’ there is no mention of a procedure to be used to protect staff from a potentially dangerous intruder.

One can only hope that this drill will soon be thoroughly reviewed and an appropriate procedure will be put in place in case it is ever needed.

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OF AFFAIRS

People are always striving for something new, and in the world of food things are no different.

This has led to some weird and wild inventions using fresh produce that have had varying levels of success, but it is up to you to make up your mind as to whether these innovations are clever, creative, or just plain crazy!

WATERMELON STEAK: A MAIN OR A DESSERT? This is a big one that has been sweeping the web: pieces of watermelon that have had their rind removed, have been smoked for hours and soaked in brine, and finally seared to create a steak-looking slice.

Created by Will Horowitz at the Manhattan restaurant Duck’s Eatery this idea is hard to wrap your head around, but who could resist when it looks so much like a perfectly cooked steak?

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PRODUCE OF AFFAIRS

No longer a vegetable that fades into the background, over the last year cauliflowers have grown more and more popular as a low-carb alternative that can be made into pizza crust, tater tots, and even cauliflower rice. This versatile veggie is being mashed and buttered like potatoes, covered in spices, and roasted for a tasty snack. It is just another example of classic vegetables becoming new favourites as home cooks learn the different ways they can be prepared and how easy it is to make vegetables the highlight of a dish.

CAULIFLOWER CREATIONS

SUSHI OR FRUISHI Closely resembling your traditional sushi but tasting a whole lot different is the trend of Fruishi – also known as Fruit Sushi. Using coconut-milk flavoured rice and fresh fruit in place of raw fish, Fruishi can be served as a party snack, an easy lunch option, or as a dessert! To really get the texture of sushi we have heard the secret is to curl a strip of fruit leather inside.

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DISGUISE PIÑATEX

THE PERFECT (VEGGIE) BURGER Here’s another one for the meat lovers; a company called Impossible foods swears they have found a way to make their veggie burgers truly taste like meat.

Their secret? A compound called ‘haem.’

This compound gives beef its colour and slightly metallic taste, and by transferring haem genes into yeast, Impossible Food claim to have cracked the code to the perfect veggie burger. This modified yeast is combined with vegetables and plants that bear similar proteins to meat and recreate meat’s distinct texture, plus a bit of coconut is added to replicate the fat found in your usual burger. Plenty of positive reviews have come out about this creation, and although it is yet to be mass produced it looks like a game changer for the meat industry and another great use of vegetables for us!

Although this brand might not be familiar yet, most people have heard of it’s more common name: Pineapple Leather! This material is not only vegan, it has low levels of environmental impact as it not only uses the leaves left over from harvested pineapples, but its production also brings another revenue stream into farming communities, and it is sustainable and versatile. This material is now being used across the world in fashion, furnishings, and in car and aeronautic industries. Even the fashion giant Hugo Boss came on board with Piñatex this year, using the material for a whole new line of designer men’s footwear.

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IN THE MARKET

ROSS BARKER If you ask Ross Barker, making it to 50 years in the market is not a huge occasion. But in a day and age where people move from job to job, a career of this length is definitely something to be celebrated.

E

VEN before joining the market community Ross was involved with fruit, working for 2 years at Beaconsfield Farms before making the move to start working in Peel Street for Barkers Fresh Produce. In those days market work was hard and repetitive labour. With no forklifts or pallets everything had to be unloaded by hand, spreading all the way onto the tram tracks – until it all had to be moved out of the way of the first tram of the morning.

When market operations needed to expand to the Footscray Road site, Ross made the move too. Ross observed that “the move was easy enough, a little bit of hassle at the time”, but he seemed unfazed by that change in comparison to the move to Epping. The large rise in rent prices and how they affected the wholesalers made the Epping move difficult, as everyone had to shell out the cash compared to what they were paying at Footscray.

ROSS HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF THE MARKET COMMUNITY AND HAS GIVEN A LOT BACK TO THE INDUSTRY. Ross has been an integral member of the market community and has given a lot back to the industry.

In the early 80s he was President of the Victorian Produce Merchants for 3-4 years. He was also a leading instigator in the creation of the Melbourne Market Committees for mangoes, stone fruit, citrus, and avocados. These committees developed promotions for wholesalers, one result being the mascots Peter Plum and Nancy Nectarine who entertained kids and educated them about the goodness of fruit and veg. No one could mistake how much Ross cares about the market, how things are run, and getting results; he has also been on the Fresh State Board of Directors, and in the Australian Mango Industry Association and the Australian Fresh Stone Fruit Growers Association.

Ross insists that working at the market was made much easier by having his understanding wife Sue by his side.

Married in 1969 she has put up with 49 years of his early mornings, but Ross notes that back in the day she did get to send him and the kids to bed in the early evening and get some time to herself.

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A NEW GENERATION

Ross and his wife Sue.

NO ONE COULD MISTAKE HOW MUCH ROSS CARES ABOUT THE MARKET, HOW THINGS ARE RUN, AND GETTING RESULTS. The couple are approaching their 50th wedding anniversary next year, which is of course another great achievement.

Looking back over his career, Ross fondly remembers his old schedule of a market morning followed by a day of golf, sometimes with workmates or buyers from the market. He looks forward to one day getting back to this, but for now it is nice to know that the passion for the industry can last as long as it has with Ross and his 50 year career in the Melbourne Markets – even though, as he says, “it’s been a topsy-turvy ride”.

Ross’ son Michael is Barkers new CEO, and has taken the reins having been taught the industry by his father alongside his brother Timothy; “I put my own spin on things, but it is the passion for our industry that he’s passed on to us”.

In 2018 it is clear that Barkers Fresh Produce is showing their investment in the Epping Market and looking ahead to their future here. Michael says that “although the market is going through some challenging times with potential other markets in Victoria like the proposed Dandenong Market”, he knows that Barkers is committed to Epping “for the next 15-20 years, we’re not here for one or two … we have put in a pretty serious investment here because we see a strong future in the Epping market”.

When it comes to his father, Michael is clearly quite proud of his legacy - “if you talk about one of dad’s faults it’s actually one of his strengths: he’s got too big a heart in this game and he’s always been one to try to help so many people with information and business”.

Ross shows real faith in his sons by taking a back seat in the business; Michael can see that Ross has “now passed the baton on to me and I’m taking Barkers in a certain way... [but] we’re making sure we still have the core values of the past”. When asked if he had anything to say about his dad’s 50 year career Michael said he “can’t believe it, 70 years old and he’s still going strong ... I hope he is around in some capacity for many more years”.

Michael insists that Ross always taught him to go above and beyond for his growers, and it’s clear that Ross has stuck to that philosophy and always done his best over his 50 year career.

Michael, Ross and Timothy Barker.

Christmas Messages 26

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DON’T FORGET TO BOOK FOR NEXT ISSUE!

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As we come towards the end of the year it is time to look ahead to our December edition which traditionally provides the opportunity for businesses to offer a holiday message to their friends and colleagues in the market community, as well as showcase their Christmas produce!

ISSUE 45

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If you are interested in arranging a Christmas message for your business this year, contact Fresh State at 9408 6627 or kate@freshstate.com.au and we can provide you with our discounted Christmas advertising price list.

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