epping marketFresh State Demands Answers

forklift challenge

DATAFRESHPRicE REPoRTing

MEET THE FRESH STATE BoARD MEMBERS

young ExEcuTivE coMMiTTEE PRojEcTS

MELBouRnE MARkETS REPoRTing SERvicE

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S O L U T I O N S F O R E V E R Y P A L L E T ®

1800 425 438www.toyotamaterialhandling.com.au

It really is no surprise that Toyota Material Handling sells more forklifts than any other company in the Australian Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Markets.With Australia’s biggest range of forklifts and the commitment to customer service and after-sales

support you’d expect from the market leader*, we guarantee to deliver the best quality material handling solutions all year round, no matter what the season. So give us a call and get a fresh forklift deal today.

Guess who’s the number one forklift choicein the Australian markets?

*Source: Logistik Journal 2009

TMH0011 Markets_FP_Final_3mm_bleed.indd 1 29/7/10 4:06:29 PM

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FREE Health checks for Men

Fresh State CEO:John Roachjohn.roach@freshstate.com.au

Editor / Advertising:Sonja van Eijksonjav@freshstate.com.auContributors:Kate AdamsonMegan Mcnaught

Design:Flying Dog Designswww.fddesigns.com.au

Photography:Wuttke Photography www.wuttke.com.auCasamento Photography www.casamento.com.au

Print:King Printwww.kingprint.com.au

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

issue 01 september 2010

2 | What’s on

3 | President’s message

8 | Fruit and vegetable residue testing

16 | Membership services

20 | Melbourne Markets Credit Service (MMCS)

23 | Melbourne Markets Reporting Service (MMRS)

24 | Young Executive Committee

25 | Fresh State full memberships

27 | Fresh State associate memberships

conTEnTS

18 Men’s health: Put your chassis to the test and take a Pit Stop!

14 Around the markets: Pictorial spread of members at work.

12 Forklift challenge: Separating the men from the boys.

Published by:

www.freshstate.com.au

what’s on:

10 Meet the board: Profiles of all 7 Fresh State Board Members. Professional and personal.

4 Market relocation: Fresh State demands answers from Government on Market move.

9 Feature – mangoes: Vital information about Australian Mangos plus a bonus recipe.

president’s message:

03

Welcome to the first edition of Fresh State of Affairs, Fresh State’s new bimonthly magazine.

There have been a number of ‘firsts’ for Fresh State this year. In March we held our first Pit Stop – a health check for men. Together with our partners the Royal flying Doctors Service and GlaxoSmith-Kline, Pit Stop highlighted the unhealthy lifestyles that the market community leads and the effects that our antiquated hours of operation impose on our health.

June saw the first Forklift Challenge, a skills based test of our forklift drivers de-veloped by the Fresh State Young Executive Committee. Our partners Toyota Material Handling and Kleenheat with assistance from Hino supported this pilot for what will become an exciting annual event.

September see’s the First Fresh State Gala Ball – the Spring Fling. This is the ‘Whole-salers Ball’ – an event aimed at acknowl-edging the importance of the sector, its businesses and individuals. Our partner Kleenheat Gas has been very supporting of this initiative.

And now Fresh State of Affairs! The Fresh State Board took up this initiative to ensure that members, the market com-munity and external stakeholders are consistently informed of the latest issues, developments and initiatives that affect their working lives.

This first issue looks at the big ticket item of relocation – We put the ‘Minister on the Spot’ as to “where is the information

on allocation, rents, leases, equity and forklift access” at Epping – why the mys-tery? We introduce the Fresh State Board and we feature action from ‘around the markets’ as well as from Pit Stop and the Forklift Challenge.

With Fresh State of Affairs the aim is to start to ‘demystify the fence’. For too long the rumour mill has misinformed people of the true nature of what happens inside

our wholesale market. They do not see the hard work, the shocking hours, the urgency of moving huge quantities of fresh produce nor the spirited negotia-tions to achieve the best price. Its time this changed!

Therefore, on behalf the Board and man-agement it gives me great pleasure in launching the first edition of Fresh State of Affairs.

Shane SchnitzlerPresidentFresh State Ltd

Fresh State Ltd makes this magazine available on the un-derstanding the users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. Before relying on, or altering any business practices, users should carefully evaluate the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information for their purpose and should obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. This magazine contains views and recommendations that do not neces-sarily reflect the views of Fresh State Ltd.

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

formation published in Fresh State of Affairs. Fresh State Ltd specifically disclaims all and any liability for loss or damage of any nature whatsoever and however arising, whether due to accuracy, error or omission or any other cause.

In addition, by using the information in this magazine, each user waives and releases Fresh State, its staff and agents from any and all claims relating to the use of this document. In no event shall Fresh State Ltd be liable for any consequential damages resulting from using the information in Fresh State of Affairs.

© Fresh State Ltd 2010

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

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

Disclaimer:

what’s on:

from the president

With Fresh State of Affairs the aim is to start to ‘demystify the fence.’

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Market users still don’t know how much rent they will be paying or what they will receive for their equity in the existing mar-ket, Mr Schnitzler, of Kapiris Brothers, said.

“This makes it impossible for people to plan their businesses. There seems to be a lot of things we can’t get answers to in regard to relocation,” he said.

The community wants answers to the issue of rents, allocation, equity, warehousing and forklift access, and these issues must be resolved immediately to give certainty to a nervous market community, Mr Schnit-zler said.

Fresh State of Affairs put Mr Schnitzler’s concerns to the Victorian Government recently, in an attempt to clarify these concerns.

Rents

Market users remain in the dark about how much rent at the Epping market will be, despite build costs being confirmed.

“There is nothing stopping them publish-ing a rent figure,” Mr Schnitzler said.

“They know what their cost is, know what their build costs is yet they are keeping rent costs under wraps.

“People need to know now so they can plan their business model going forward. They need to decide if they are capable of an increase in rent. The more time they’ve got the better.”

Major Projects Minister Tim Pallas who is responsible for the new market told Fresh State of Affairs he hopes the Government will be in a position to give advice on rents before the end of the year.

“It’s a critical issue for market tenants and an issue that really goes to the attractive-ness of the relocation offer and the future of their businesses. We don’t want to rush into this,” he said.

issue 01 september 2010

The new Epping market in Melbourne’s north is touted to be state of the art. But market tenants remain in the dark about the basic details, less than two years from the new market opening its doors, according to Fresh State President, Shane Schnitzler.

05

“The community wants answers to the issue of rents, allocation, equity, warehousing and forklift access, and these issues must be resolved immediately to give certainty to a nervous market community.”

Mr Pallas said the Government was working with the MMA and the market community on the issue, but couldn’t speculate what the rates will be.

“The thing that is motivating us is making the market a viable ongoing concern and as possible for existing operators to move,” he said.

Allocation

The Victorian Government has approved a design and fixed the contract price with Bovis Lend Lease, yet allocation of market sites remains an unknown.

“What we want to know is who will be where and who gets what and how that will be allocated,” Mr Schnitzler said.

The new market will continue using the three site models: A store, B store and trad-

ing floor, with many market users currently operating from a mix of three or two.

“Again this uncertainty clouds people’s judgment going forward because they don’t know if they can run similar business models to what they have at Footscray Road, at Epping,” Mr Schnitzler said.

According to Mr Pallas, the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Devel-opment was compiling information on current store holdings and will determine space offered to tenants in the new market.

“It’s an enormous exercise and later this year we will be able to talk to tenants how that process will work,” he said.

Equity

With more than 40 years of equity built up in the Footscray market’s wholesaling business, knowing how that equity will be transferred to the new market is critical for business operation, Mr Schnitzler said.

The Government has earmarked $34.2 mil-lion for an industry assistance package, but it is not known how this will apply and how the issue of equity will be fairly compen-sated for, in the new market.

“There’s been no word at all from the Gov-ernment on this issue,” Mr Schnitzler said.

“Effectively we’d like to see the Government apply the $34.2 million to the improve-

ments that people have spent over the years. This gives them the opportunity to transfer their improvements over to the new site.”

Market users recently engaged a third-par-ty surveyor to quantify their improvements and those values have been forward to the Government.

Mr Pallas told Fresh State of Affairs the new market will offer far more superior facilities that will meet the needs of the market us-ers for decades to come.

He said the Government was committed to give tenants the opportunity to operate and or own the new Epping market.

“We’re essentially prepared to work with tenants to give them an opportunity to look at the future management of the

facility and operate and or own the new markets. It is an issue we are certainly open to. The market community ultimately will be the masters of their own destiny,” Mr Pallas said.

In relation to the industry assistance pack-age, the Minister was unable to specify how it might be applied.

“It’s a resource we can tap into for the purpose of making the move as attractive as possible to the industry,” he said.

Warehousing

The market community has asked the Government for the opportunity to buy freehold land for warehousing at the new site, yet the Government has not respond-ed, Mr Schnitzler said.

“Because the Government is silent, we can’t make a decision on these issues,” he said.

Mr Pallas told Fresh State of Affairs that proximity warehousing issues was the next issue on table, with the Department cur-rently conducting interviews with tenants on this matter.

“We are looking into the total amount of warehousing actually required and who is best placed to deliver it… and consider-ing whether it will be long term lease or freehold,” Mr Pallas said.

OF AFFAIRS

The new market will offer far more superior facilities that will meet the needs of the market users for decades to come.

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Forklift access

One of the most contentious issues at the new market relates to forklift access. The Government has agreed a building contract with Bovis Lend Lease with forklift access in trading stands or growers floor, but not at the front of trading mod-ules or wholesale premises because of ventilation issues. Cur-rently forklift access is allowed throughout the market floor.

This creates an uncompetitive environment with the growers’ floor being allowed access, but wholesale premises not, Mr Schnitzler said. At the same time it doesn’t make operational sense, he said. With 95 per cent of retailers using forklifts to transport produce, it is imperative that there is access throughout the market floor.

“It means all of our retailers are going to have to buy at the rear of our stores, not the front of our stores. Buyers effectively can’t see the goods at the front unless they walk,” he said.

The Government’s argument that it is a ventilation issue indicates a problem with the design that must be addressed, Mr Schnitzler said.

According to the Minister, market tenants would be treated equally in terms of forklift access, while occupational health and safety was paramount in the new market.

“We want to create a safe work environment for tenants where business can thrive,” Mr Pallas said.

“Forklifts will be permitted on the trading stands and stalls, being the rear of stores and stands, and pedestrian access at the front. Separate forklift access and pedestrian access is the key to our thinking here.”

07

Rents

In late 2009 we were told no later than March of 2010. Now it’s the end of the year, (an election year !!).

There seems no doubt that rents will be a blow out otherwise they would have been released…

AllocAtion

Government have a fixed contract with Bovis Lend Lease based on a fixed design….

so what’s the hold up?

We can only assume that the design does not meet the needs of current business holdings.

equity

A & B store holders will be supplied with nothing more than two walls with front and rear doors (rear being a roller door). Not even a ceiling is being provided!!

The statement of a far more superior facility seems to be a smoke screen.

Own and Operate the Market - Government has held no discussion with the market community on the management or ownership models to date, however they have published that the MMA will be the operator.

WARehousing

The government acquired 133 ha of land for the purpose of the fruit and vegetable market but are only dealing with approx 54 ha. There seems to be an intention to sell the remainder to developers to the detriment of the market community.

If we push people out of this precinct the facility will fail, as proven overseas.

FoRkliFt Access

The Minister’s comment of forklift access to the rear of stands can only be classed as uneducated, stands are lines on the ground, and stand holders can simply turn their stock around to face any direction.

stands don’t have a front or rear!!

The store holders will simply lose the market atmosphere to the growers floor and trade will move to the rear of their stores.

“We want to create a safe work environment for tenants where business can thrive.”

The PresidenT’s

View:

OF AFFAIRS

To access FreshTest Online go to www.freshmarkets.com.auNote: you must first register with the Chamber to receive a logon and password.

To organise collection and testing of your produce, please contact your State Chamber office.

FreshTest Online has a live connection to the Fresh Test database that allows you to obtain information and reports for yourself or your growers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fresh Test is an Australian Chamber Initiative which monitors and tests chemical and microbial levels in fresh produce. Fresh Test is a state of the art testing

program designed to promote and maintain high quality produce standards within the Fresh produce Industry.

•DailycollectionofFreshProduce•Quick,easyandreliable•24houronlineaccessforwholesalers•Uptodateresults•Improvedauditefficiency•Allresultsheldincompleteconfidence•Alllaboratoriesusedareaccreditedby

NATAtoIEC/ISO17025

•Cheaperthanit’scompetitors•IsrecognizedbyGovernmentandindustry

including major retailers•HasregularliaisonwiththirdpartyQA

certification bodies to ensure testing meets increasingly stringent requirements

•Alltestsareconductedthroughindependent NATA accredited laboratories

Benefits:

AdveRtISement

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fruit & vegetable residue testing:

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Please note the new pricing below which is effective immediately. Prices exclude GST. As at 22nd Jan 2010.

TEST CODE ANALYSIS PRICE / SAMPLEMembers Non Members

PESTICIDES

C3 C3 Full Residue Analysis(Organophosphates, Organochlorines, HalogenatedPyrethroids, Carbamates, Fungicides, Acaracides,and selected Herbicides)

$125.00 $145.00

C4 Dithiocarbamates (measured as CS2) $100.00 $120.00

C5 Miscellaneous chemicals $100.00 $120.00

C6 C3 + C5 $200.00 $220.00

HEAVY METALS

HM1 Cadmium $55.00 $65.00

HM2 Cadmium/Lead/Mercury $65.00 $75.00

HM3 Arsenic $55.00 $65.00

MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

M1 E.coli $28.00 $38.00

M2 E.coli + Listeria $58.00 $68.00

M3 E.coli + Listeria + Salmonella $85.00 $95.00

M9 All of the above + Staphylococci and Faecal Coliforms $150.00 $160.00

M5 E.coli + Listeria + Salmonella + Staphylococci $150.00 $160.00

issue 01 september 2010

section indicator:

Ingredients

• 2ripejuicymangoes,diced• 1butterlettucewashedand

separated• 2poachedchickenbreasts,

shredded• 1redcapsicumsliced• ½cupchopped

coriander

Dressing

• 2clovescrushedgarlic• ¼cuplimejuice• 1tbspfishsauce• 2tbspsweetchillisauce

Method

1. Arrange the lettuce in a pile on a serving platter. Combine the chicken, mango, capsicum and coriander and set aside.

2. Combine the dressing ingre-dients and mix through the chicken and mango salad. Pile beside the lettuce leaves.

3. To serve, fill a lettuce leaf with some of the chicken and mango salad then roll up and eat!

Serving suggestion

Add 1 large handful of bean sproutsand¼cupchoppedroasted peanuts to the salad.

Makes: 2 serves Prep time: 10 – 15 mins Cooking time: 10 mins

09

AdveRtISement

mangoesMarket

Mangoes from the Darwin area have been on the market for the last couple of weeks. Kensington Pride (also known as Bowen) and R2E2 varieties are both in light to moderate supply at present and building.

The overall quality can best be described as mixed and a wide price range is operating as a result. Quality needs to improve from what we see at the moment.

The Darwin season will continue until mid November when the Katherine area kicks in and will go on until the end of Novem-ber / early December.

Reports from the growing areas gener-ally predict a good level of supply given favourable conditions.

The Queensland season should start in November and overlap with the NT.

The early Queensland fruit which will come from the Burdekin area has in past years been of poor to average quality and expectations are similar this season.

Quality will be significantly higher when the Mareeba fruit starts in November and continue until February.

Late September / early October also see’s the arrival of stone fruit from Southern Queensland and northern NSW.

Mango facts

Kensington pride makes up approxi-mately 70% of all mango fruit with the next most popular being Calypso and R2E2. Over 80% of mangoes are sold on the fresh market with the remaining 20% being used for processing. Approximately 10% of fresh mangoes are exported.

What to look for when buying

A ripe mango should have a fragrant trop-ical fruity aroma, a full colour and will give slightly to the touch. An unripe mango has no scent and can have an unpleasant chemical taste if eaten raw.

Storage

To get the best taste, mangoes should not be refrigerated until ripe. To ripen, store at room temperature. Fully ripened mangoes can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, and never store them in a plastic bag as they need air.

Australians eat their way through eight million trays of mangoes a year.

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Shane Schnitzler – President

Unlike many in the market, Shane is the first in his family to embark on a career in the fresh produce industry. Yet the CEO of Kapiris Brothers says he was born to work with fruit and vegetables.

A part time job in a fruit shop in Lilydale at age 14 sparked a lifelong interest in the industry which led Shane to manage Wool-worths’ fresh produce business for nearly 15 years before joining Kapiris Brothers 13 years ago.

“I love the fruit and vegetables and the people,” Shane says. “Every person you meet in this industry has the best product and knows everything about everything. There’s a lot of passion. It’s awesome.”

As President of the Fresh State board, Shane wants to take the 105-year-old organisation towards a sustainable business model that’s truly representative of its members, which ultimately will become a member-owned, private equity business.

Shane believes travelling to other markets and continuously learning from others is the key to moving the industry forward.

“The future of our industry is in the palm of our hands, and is only limited by our imagination,” he says.

Outside of market hours Shane spends as much time as possible with his other loves, wife Linda and children Brett, 19, Gabrielle, 16 and Charlie, 3.

Joe Amalfi – Vice President

A 30 year veteran of the market, Joe knew from an early age that an ordinary day job was never for him.

“I don’t enjoy that mundane, nine to five lifestyle,” Joe says. “I like a challenge, and this industry certainly throws its challenges at you.”

Working at the market with his father dur-ing school holidays led Joe to becoming a carrier agent at 17, before buying his own stall and establishing Brescia Wholesalers in 1988, which he sold to his brother, before establishing his current company, The Fruit Specialist.

Joe joined the Fresh State board four years ago after realising there were issues in the market affecting all the users that needed an industry approach.

“My focus used to be purely and simply with my business. It just got the stage where there were things in the market we needed to work on as an industry,” he said.

As part of his role, Joe is a director of the Melbourne Market Credit Service which is owned and operated by Fresh State. He is wants to see more market users switch from dealing in cash to using the credit ser-vice which provides security and cheaper rates the more it’s used.

“I’d prefer to know we have safe funds rather than unsafe funds,” Joe says.

Joe is married to Rosalba and has four children, Frances, 22, Bernice, 19, Daniella, 13 and James, 11 and is president of the Banyule Football Club.

Vince Brancatisano – Deputy Vice President

Although Vince began working in the mar-ket as a 10 year old, he had no intention of joining the family wholesaling business after completing his business degree at university. But graduating in the 1990s recession meant good jobs were hard to come by and Vince realised he was lucky to have his holiday market job.

“After a few months I really started to enjoy it and then the challenge bit me and I never thought of doing anything else,” he says.

Vince is in his 20th year at Prestige Produce, the third-generation family business he runs with his two younger brothers and for the past 12 of those has been on the Fresh State board.

“I’m very excited about what Fresh State can achieve. It’s got several business units, all profitable and is becoming a leading organisation in the Australian horticultural industry.”

Vince believes Fresh State plays a key role in supporting the industry to improve the way it does business and building the industry’s profile in the community.

Outside of business, Vince enjoys spending time at his family farm with his wife Katie and children Carla, 6, and Max, 4, and their Belted Galloway cattle.

“I like a challenge, and this industry certainly throws its challenges at you.”

“The future of our industry is in the palm of our hands, and is only limited by our imagination.”

“I’m very excited about what Fresh State can achieve.”

issue 01 september 2010

Shane Schnitzler joe Amalfi vince Brancatisano Phillip Brancatisano grant nichol

Phillip Brancatisano – Board Member

One of two new members of the Fresh State Board, Phillip joined the team four months ago, drawing on his leadership experience with other boards and sporting clubs.

The director of the Apple Arcade, a wholesale business specialising in apples, pears, nectar-ines, cherries and grapes, Phillip has been in business for 19 years but came to the market at 16, to work with his father, a retailer.

He has a motto for business, which has been the key to his success.

“Growers are our family, customers are our partners,” he says. “It’s no good trying to stitch a customer up today, because they won’t be back tomorrow.”

Phillip says attracting good staff is one of the industry’s challenges he hopes to address.

“It’s a real issue getting good workers because they’ll give it a go and they disap-pear because they just don’t want to do the hours,” he says.

But despite the early hours, he believes the market is a great place to work.

“I love the fact I’ve got the day to myself f I want to do anything. I enjoy the wheeling and dealing and the challenge of making a dollar. And the people in the market are really good people.”

Phillip enjoys spending time with his wife Angela and children Katrina, Natasha, David and Matthew. He also enjoys water skiing and his role on the board of the East Keilor Football Club.

Grant Nichol – Board MemberFour years ago Flavorite’s wholesale busi-ness manager Grant Nichol joined the Fresh State Board to be involved in the market re-location to Epping in 2012. Grant describes the move as the biggest event impacting the industry, and hopes to help facilitate a good transition to the new market.

“We want to negotiate a good deal for our wholesalers and ensure the move to Ep-ping is a positive one that is adds value to all our businesses,” he says.

Along with his role on the market relocation advisory committee, Grant is also a director of the Credit Service and sits on the policy council and wholesaler advisory committee.

Grant has been around the market since he was a teenager and today runs his third-generation family business Flavorite Marketing, with his two cousins. Originally a banana wholesaler, Flavorite grows and markets hydroponic tomatoes, cucumbers and capsicums, plus a range of produce from other growers around the country.

“But you develop a passion for the industry and get drawn into it,” he says. “The key thing to what I love about it is it changes, not just day to day but minute to minute, and you constantly have to evaluate things.”

Grant has travelled the world as an Aus-tralian skydiving team member, a sport he continues to enjoy with his wife Julie. He enjoys skiing and other sports with sons Lachlan, 10 and Liam, 8.

Vince Natoli – Board MemberGetting young people involved in running the market was one reason why Vince Natoli joined the Fresh State board eight years ago. As chairman of Fresh State’s Young Execu-tives Board, Vince is focused on developing the next generation of market leaders.

“I joined Fresh State because I wanted to see changes in the market and thought the only way you can help is by getting involved and trying to make things better,” Vince said. “By getting young people on board, it’s bringing in the future of the market and helping the guys be stronger and better leaders.”

Under his stewardship, the young execu-tives have organised successful market events including the recent Forklift challenge, and presented Victorian Major Projects Minister Tim Pallas with a plan to address the issue of market hours.

Vince has been around fruit and vegeta-bles his entire life, helping his parents Betty and Gino run fruit shops in Melbourne’s outer east. He began his current wholesale business AMV Fresh seven years ago, with his brother Claude.

“I have a passion for what I do,” Vince says. “Every morning is an exciting challenge and reading the market is like reading the stock market. It’s a great feeling when you get it right.”

An accomplished fisherman, Vince has held the Australian record for a 154kg Marlin which he caught at Narooma, on the NSW coast. He is also a mad Richmond support-er, where he helps out before games. Vince is married to Teresa, and has a daughter Nadia, 11, and son David, 8.

Steve Grillo – Board MemberSteve joined the Fresh State Board this year. As state manager of Moraitis, one of the largest rent holders in the market, Steve has a unique perspective of the industry working for a national organisation which operates wholesale, packaging and banana ripening businesses.

“I actually love this industry, the dynamics and it’s ever-changing face. You come in each day and never know what you’ll be up against,” Steve says.

Steve joined the industry as a 15 year old at Woolworths before working in fruit shops and various wholesalers, with a 10 year break out of the industry in between.

As a Fresh State director he hopes to help address issues that matter right now from the use of Chep pellets, to the move to Epping.

“I really want to make a difference for wholesalers in the market and be their voice,” Steve says.

With 30 years of karate training under his belt, Steve also runs a karate school in Keilor Downs. An Essendon supporter, Steve is married to Joanne and is father to seven-year-old twins Connor and Jordan.

They have fresh produce in their blood, are driven by a passion to improve the industry they love and are dedicated to representing the people who make up the dynamic marketplace they are so proud of.

11

meet the fresh State board

“Growers are our family, customers are our partners.”

grant nichol vince natoli Steve grillo

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forkies take to the floor in formula one style

13

It had all the trappings of Formula One: speed, precision, expensive machines and fierce rivalry between highly skilled drivers.

But it was another event that took over the Melbourne Wholesale Market trading floor for a day in June – the inau-gural Forklift Challenge.

The competition was held after drivers finished work in the morning to give them a chance to get to know each other on a social level.

It was so successful it is likely to become an annual fixture in the calendar.

Twenty seven drivers com-pleted three different courses under the watchful eye of judges, who were looking for speed, accuracy and safety.

Each mistake was penalised and the driver with the lowest score at the end was de-clared the winner.

24 year old Justin Agosta took out the over-all prize with a score of 329, well ahead of nearest rival Shane Clay, with 374 and just ahead of Elliot Ward in third place on 377.

Justin attributed his success to a childhood spent driving machinery around the farm. “You can’t sell bruised produce so you learn to be accurate pretty quickly,” he said.

The three courses competitors had to complete were:

Pallet Course: participants moved, re–stacked and moved again a number of pallets in a particular order.

Obstacle Course: Each participant had to accurately navigate around a tight course of obstacles in both forward and reverse.

Truck Course: Each participant had to neatly load and unload produce, packed in various types of packaging, on a truck.

Justin grew up on a cauliflower, lettuce and silver beet farm in Werribee South and made the move into the market five years ago.

He is now a sales representative for his own company, Agosta Produce, and said con-centration and consistency were the keys to being a good forklift driver.

“You need to be fast but more importantly, you need to be consistent,” he said.

“Growing up on the farm we would often have races and we always joke that I would win a competition – but I never thought I would actually compete in one,” he said.

He said winning first place was a thrill, but competing in the event had other benefits.

It gave him a chance to meet people who he works alongside with every night but never had reason to speak to before.

“There are plenty of people that I have always seen around the market, but never crossed paths with, so this gave me a chance to get to know them,” he said.

That was exactly what organisers of the event were hoping for, according to Fresh State Ltd Young Executive Committee member Lukasz Gorajek.

The committee decided to hold the event to promote a sense of unity at the market.

“There is nothing like a bit of friendly rivalry for bringing people together,” Lukasz said.

He said while retailers and agents often received recognition for their hard work, forklift drivers, who worked through the night, often missed out.

“The forkies are sort of the unsung heroes of the market, they deserve some recogni-tion,” Lukasz said.

Lukasz said hundreds of forklift drivers worked at the markets overnight, to make sure that fresh produce was ready to sell each morning.

In an industry where quality and freshness are paramount, there is no room for error.

“There is no point growing, picking and transporting produce only to have it dam-aged in the final stages,” he said.

“If you drop a pallet of tomatoes they can’t be returned. Fruit and vegetables are big business and it needs to be done right.”

“Forklift drivers need to be reliably good at their job.”

Lukasz said the competition was so suc-cessful it is hoped it will become an annual fixture in the calendar.

He said the quality of drivers in the compe-tition was extremely high and he expects it to be even higher next year.

“We had a lot of people say to us that they wished they had entered … we think we could double our entries next year.”

Second place getter Shane Clay, who works for fruit wholesaler G Ferlazzo, commended the organisers of the event.

“Everyone stayed around and had a BBQ afterwards and chat-ted to each other.

“We all work together but it was good to be able to relax and have a bit of fun as well.”

The 30 year old, who won one of the challenges, said being a good forklift driver meant being a perfectionist.

“Especially when it comes to loading the trucks, because if the pallets aren’t in straight then the produce will be damaged.

“It needs to be done right every time.”

Lukasz wanted to thank sponsors Toyota Materials Handling, Kleenheat Gas, Mel-

bourne Market Authority and Hino Trucks.

“The forkies are sort of the unsung heroes of the market, they deserve some recognition.”

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Clockwise from top:1. Sam, Tripodi Produce P/L

2. John and John, Kapiris Bros

3. Tony, Fresh Berry Co

4. Tony and Mario, Regal Produce P/L

5. Phil, Chris and Ralph, Westmores

6. Robin, Westmores

7. Albert, Wong & Co P/L

8. Ang, LA Produce

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representing market community

Fresh State Ltd (“FSL”) is the representa-tive body of wholesalers operating at the Melbourne Markets and Member-ship Services is the primary business unit of FSL. It is in fact the founding business of FSL and its’ earlier organisa-tional structures over the last 105 years. FSL represents more than 95% of Mel-bourne wholesalers and this support reflects the directions and programs taken by FSL to provide proper representation, value and services to members.

The current 163 member businesses rep-resent wholesalers, growers, retailers and providores as well as numerous ancillary supporting businesses within the Mel-bourne Market community. These include warehouse tenants, transport companies, food outlets, hire companies, unloaders and many other businesses which support the primary wholesalers. Accordingly, FSL now provides considerably more value added services and representation for members benefit.

In 2006 Fresh State undertook a Class action against the State to protect the equity rights of members. This class action has since been parked whilst further negotiations are undertaken with the State, but remains alive and will be re-instated if need be.

In recent years, FSL has obtained consider-able legal advice on common issues such as relocation, lease renewals and variations, and the mandatory code - all issues that impacted on members businesses.

FSL is committed to reviewing its goals and will face the challenges and opportunities ahead.

What are the services available to members of FSL?

Representation

FSL communicates with the Melbourne Market Authority and the State Govern-ment on industry matters, acting in the members best interests. Site issues such as credit, pallets and market hours are the primary areas of focus.

On a national basis, FSL is a member of the Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries, and makes representation to the Federal Government on relevant issues and initiatives.

Meetings

The FSL Annual General Meeting for all mem-bers is held each October with our half yearly General Meeting held in March each year.

The Board consists of up to 8 Directors who are elected by the members, and meet monthly to manage the FSL business. The Board and management also participate in a strategic planning workshop each April to focus on the direction and annual budget for the upcoming year.

Incoming Product Volumes

FSL collects manifest data of incoming product volumes. This information is only available to members and is free of charge.

Insurance & Rental Bonds

FSL has arranged for special group rates on Public Liability Insurance and Insur-ance Rental Bonds for members. These group schemes provide members with considerable savings when compared with individual insurances. Competitive rates are also available on other types of insurance.

Fresh State equipment & secretarial services

The latest in photocopying, word pro-cessing, binding or facsimile facilities are available for member’s requirements at a nominal fee. Secretarial services can also be arranged for members.

Purchasing discounts

FSL Members can take advantage of special purchasing deals with a number of prestige car makers such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mer-cedes, BMW, Audi, VW, Lexus, and also with Toyota forklifts and Hino Trucks.

Job Seekers

FSL lists employment vacancies and relevant job seekers in our weekly Newsletter. This service saves members recruitment costs.

FSL represents more than 95% of Melbourne wholesalers and this support reflects the directions and programs taken by the FSL to provide proper representation, value and services to members.

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The market is required to observe employment conditions covering Clerical & Administrative, Storage Services and Transport Employees.

Fresh State is an active member of the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VECCI) which provides instant assistance for any employer, employee conditions or disputes. FSL has access to the most recent information on employment conditions and advises members on their employment requirements.

FSL has a comprehensive website which provides considerable infor-mation on our organisation as well as a listing of all members. The FSL website publishes each member’s Terms of Trade as required under the Mandatory Code of Conduct. Members contact details and types of produce are listed and members have the opportunity to have a hot link to their own web site.

www.freshstate.com.au

Facilities are available for members to hold their own company or group meetings in the Boardroom, with overhead projector, television, video and white board on hand.

Call 9689 3233 to arrange your booking.

Training courses, seminars and conference facilities are available for both in-house and external courses for business and personal develop-ment. Fresh State has facilitated in house Fork Lift License Testing and has developed and conducted com-prehensive training for members on the Mandatory Code of Conduct.

FSL members are entitled to use “FreshSpecs” as their product specification standards. Having a recognised product specification assists with meeting quality assur-ance standards and also minimises difficulties with rejection of product on delivery from suppliers.

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FSL represents more than 95% of Melbourne wholesalers and this support reflects the directions and programs taken by the FSL to provide proper representation, value and services to members.

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Pit StOP!

“Pit Stop was a much needed wake up call for many of us, and hopefully we will start looking after ourselves a lot better as a result.”

issue 01 september 2010

put your chassis to the test and take a

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More than 300 market users took up the challenge and got themselves checked

out by the Pit Stop team of doctors who hit the market floor.

Organised by Fresh State and sup-ported by the Royal Flying Doctors and GlaxoSmithKline, Pit Stop was an initiative encouraging wholesalers and other market users to take stock of their health and wellbeing.

And it was lucky they did, with results showing health was a major problem for many men working in the market. Most averaged only three hours sleep a night and had poor diets, while many had high blood pressure and several were identified at risk for bowel cancer and referred to their GP.

To attract the mostly male partici-pants, the Pit Stop health check up

was designed as a series of car-themed medical tests including the chassis (waist) check, exhaust (smoking), oil pressure (blood pressure) and duco (skin cancer) tests.

Victorian Minister for Major Projects Tim Pallas, celebrity dietician Judy Davie and former Essendon footballer and cancer survivor Adam Ramanauskas were on hand to spread the message of how important it was to get regular check-ups to prevent a serious illness.

Adam Ramanauskas was particularly pas-sionate in his plea to the men to take care of themselves.

``There are 7000 people who work here and walk through the door. If we can get a quarter of these guys tested it’s a great achievement,’’ he said.

``Just do it, it’s such an easy thing.’’

Fresh State president Shane Schnitzler said Pit Stop was designed as a fun way to ap-proach a very serious issue.

“We work horrible hours, we don’t eat healthily, we don’t feel we have the time to exercise and we have all sorts of excuses,’’ Mr Schnitzler said.

“Pit Stop was a much needed wake up call for many of us, and hopefully we will start look-ing after ourselves a lot better as a result.”

Wholesaler Phil Basile took the Pit Stop test and since has been working to im-prove his diet and get more sleep in a bid for better health.

“The hours we work are not very good for our health,” he said.

“I’ve been working in that environment for 22 years, and it’s all the things you do on top of eating fruit and vegetables that are not good for you, like drinking coffee and smoking, to stay awake.”

“It was an excellent event and I think they should come again soon,” he said. “I think a lot of other people would want to take part who didn’t get to do it the first time.”

Rick Giurini of Pignataro’s said Pit Stop was a good way to educate men about their health while being a fun social event.

“I thought it was good idea because blokes tend to not worry about their health as much,” Rick said.

“And anything to get the blokes together is good. There’s probably 4000 or 5000 people working at the market and you never really see them outside of work hours because their busy doing deliveries, busy selling, and after market everyone goes upstairs to do their paperwork.”

He was not surprised to be told to stop smoking and drinking and improve his diet.

“But it’s pretty hard when we do work dif-ferent hours. And we are having hamburg-ers at 5am in the morning because we’ve been up since midnight.”

For wholesaler Harry Kapiris, Pit Stop was a real eye opener.

“I’m not the fittest bloke about; I’m reason-ably healthy but not fit. You just don’t think of those things and how the body works, and how things can affect your life,” Harry said.

“The younger generation are a bit more alert and in tune with their bodies but the older blokes keep going until the whole thing wears down. “

Since Pit Stop, Harry has had a full check up with his GP.

“I probably wouldn’t have gone otherwise because you only go to the doctor if some-thing was really wrong.”

That was the call to the market community at the inaugural Pit Stop for good health event at the market in March this year.

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The latest business-to-business pay-ments figures released by Dun and Bradstreet reveal that Australian firms took an average of 53.4 days to settle their accounts during the June quarter. Payments now exceed the standard 30 day term by more than three weeks and remain above pre-crisis levels.

According to the Dun & Bradstreet report, the latest data provides a clear sign that businesses must continue to focus on the fundamentals of cash flow management. The report said that Australian firms need to recognise the value of their accounts receiv-able. A solid receivables process, which is dependent on firms taking action to collect their bills promptly, can generate significant-ly more operating cash for the business.

Business-to-business payment data provides a strong indicator of the cash position of firms and access to cash is vitally important

during a recovery period as firms seek to meet growing demand. The report stated that to positively affect the cash flow of firms, executives need to take prompt action to collect their bills and to make accounts receivable a key priority.

So how do you sharpen up? By utilising the Melbourne Markets Credit Service (MMCS) you get paid in 14 days – a huge advantage when compared to other industries and lets you sleep soundly at night. To find out more contact the MMCS office on 03 96877333 or mmcs@melbmcs.com.au

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lagging payments hurting half of aussie firms – are you one of these?

testimonialsJoe Toscano began going to market 53 years ago and he still thrives on the buzz, sharing buying duties with sons Da-mian and Patrick for the family’s three stores in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

“I just don’t want to give it up, I love it,” Joe says. “There’s no case of fruit the same, no piece of fruit the same. You’ve got to continuously monitor your quality.”

The Toscano legacy began when Joe’s parents opened their first fruit shop in the mid-

1930s, before launching the Kew flagship Toscano’s store in 1950. Today the store oper-ates across 4 shop fronts, and involves Joe’s extended family.

“We just work well together. We all have an opinion... the reason you have strong opinions you have passion for the business, which we each have.” Joe says.

Joe says hard work and focusing on making customers happy is what Toscano’s is about.

“All business is about relation-ships,” he says. “If a grower is looking after you when

something is scarce, you look after him when it’s plentiful… Most of us work with that ethos because you don’t get far the other way. It’s the same with customers. If anyone has a prob-lem we fix it. We do our very best so you go home happy.”

Joe has welcomed the devel-opment of Melbourne Market Credit Service which he says has been good for his business and for the industry.

“The credit service is convenient with one bill at the end of the day,” he says.

Named after its Chinese founder, R. Anguey began at the Victorian Market after World War II, and is today one of the last specialist pea and bean agents in the market.

Stephen Wirtz has oper-ated the company since 1996 and says he follows the old fashioned ethos of bringing in produce fresh daily.

“We don’t have warehouses, we don’t have delivery trucks, we get our stuff in fresh and aim to

sell it every day fresh… what-ever the prices are,” he says.

“We’ve always been top shelf agents and we’ve always had top growers,” Stephen says.

“We are specialised and people get to know you for what you handle. Most of our customers are regulars and they trust us”.

He said prompt payments are appreciated and the Mel-bourne Market Credit Service has aided this process.

“The credit service is fantastic, I swear buy it,” Stephen says. “It really suits retailers as they want the ease of paperwork.”

“We have touch screen comput-ers and once we’ve done our trading for the day it gets trans-ferred into credit service buyers and casual bookings. With credit service buyers, it’s an invoice and docket on the day, and it’s all on email. It’s such a time saver.“

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Audit . Tax . Business Advice

Keith is the newly appointed Chair of the Melbourne Markets Credit Service (MMCS). He is a familiar face with a number of Fresh State members having facilitated the four strategic planning and governance workshops over the last three years.

Keith brings to the position of Chair of the MMCS a wealth of experience in both the legal and business professions. He has combined degrees in economics and law and has been a practicing solicitor for over 30 years.

Keith’s areas of expertise include corporate and commercial, property, employment law, family business and pharmaceuticals. He has substantial business management

experience and proven competence in establishing, managing and interpreting financial information.

Keith is a Fellow of the Institute of Com-pany Directors and an inaugural member of its “Super 5 Club” for conference speak-ing and education. He was the first lawyer appointed by the Victorian Government to the Pharmacy Board of Victoria; is a former member of the Property and Environment Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria and a former member of the Institute’s Employment Law Section.

Keith’s ability and experience in business and cultural change and his understanding of the direction, development and position of both Fresh State and the Credit Service are major pluses for the business.

keith hanslow: millens

AdveRtISement

mmcs

With more than 20 years’ involvement in assisting the fresh produce industry, WilmothFieldWarne has the insight and experience to be a valuable and reliable legal partner to your business.

We are the trusted solicitors of Fresh State Limited assisting them in numerous matters including commercial negotiations with the State in respect of the relocation to Epping, providing advice for members’ store and warehouse leases at Footscray Road and many commercial matters.

We have provided legal services for a number of key clients at the markets for the last two decades.

Our track record stands for itself.

WilmothFieldWarne offers legal services in numerous areas of law including:

• Corporate Restructures

• Sale and Purchase of business

• Property and Finance (Commercial and Residential)

• Leasing (Commercial and Retail)

• Wills and Probate / Estate and Succession Planning

• Family Law

• Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Building and Construction

• Town Planning

• Insolvency: Corporate and Personal

• Recoveries

• Personal Injuries / Medical Negligence

Level 13, 440 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria Australia 3000tel: +61 (03) 9224 1000 | fax: +61 (03) 9224 1099 | email: info@wfw.com.au | web: www.wfw.com.au

Our law firm really understands your industry

Don’t hesitate to call our liaison partners Euan Luff or Anthony Desiderio

Tel: 9224 1000 Fax: 92241099

melbourne m

arkets online register:23

A Solution to payment problems

The nature of the fresh produce industry can often mean a level of uncertainty when it comes to your daily transactions. Decid-ing which buyers to sell to can be tricky. Are they a bad risk? When will they pay? Will they pay at all? As a seller, these are all questions that can weigh heavily on you whenever produce changes hands. There’s no doubt it’s a stressful way to do business, not to mention a drain on your cash flow.

Imagine if you could choose who you sell to based on factual up to date evidence of their payment history and current debt status? Melbourne Markets Reporting Ser-vices (MMRS) now makes that a reality. This new and innovative service means you can sell with confidence and the peace of mind that you are dealing with a reputable buyer.

What Is The Melbourne Markets Reporting Service?

The Melbourne Markets Reporting Service is an on-line register which:

• IdentifiesbuyersoutsidetheMelbourneMarkets Credit Service ledger

• Recordstotalamountofoutstandingdebt accumulated with sellers

• Identifiesthosebuyerswhoareinarrears

• Canassistsellersintherecoveryof accumulated debts

• Helpsbuyersrealisedebtswithrepay-ment plans

This information then allows you to make fact based decisions on which buyers you will sell to – more information means more security!

• Developaninformedopinionastowhether a particular buyer is a reason-able credit risk

• Makeaneducateddecisionregard-ing whether to sell produce to a buyer, taking into consideration the amount of outstanding debt

How does it work?

As a seller your input is important in mak-ing the register an effective and accurate tool for all users. When you join the service you will be asked to enter your aged debtor details and other nominal debtor informa-tion on a weekly basis. Not only does this provide an accurate debtor report but more importantly highlights those buyers in arrears. This means that you and fellow sellers can simply log on to the report and receive accurate up to date information on which to base your weekly sales decisions. Not only does this help your short term cash flow, but in the long term hopefully encourages wayward buyers to improve their payment behaviour – and that’s good for everyone.

Training

MMRS also offers FREE training, so you and your staff can use the system with confidence with no downtime or cost to your business.

Security and Confidentiality

The MMRS utilises an independent third party to validate security of the system, so you know that all recorded information is secure and confidential.

Want to Know More?

For additional information contact Melbourne Markets Reporting Service:

Postal Address: PO Box 560 Footscray VIC 3011 Tel: (03) 9687 7333 Fax: (03) 9687 7611 Email: info@melbmrs.com.au

Are drawn out trading terms crippling your business?

melbourne markets reporting Service

Log on via your security P.I.N.

Click to accept Terms & Conditions

Search for a particular buyer

Search results are displayed

Log on with your security P.I.N.

Click to accept Terms & Conditions

Upload a pre configured CSV file

or manually enter data

Review debtor information

Accessing Debtor Information:

Two Easy to Use Functions

Entering Debtor Information:

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The Fresh State Young Executive Committee (YEC) is designed to promote opportunities for young people to voice their views and im-prove their working environment. Many of today’s business owners have passed through the YEC on their way to either establishing their own business, taking over the reins of their family business or achieving higher representative positions.

The format of the YEC was revamped late last year so as there is a mix of people and a mix of undertakings or projects. Some of these undertakings relate to the YEC itself and some to the broader market com-munity. The YEC currently has six members with a number of observers and is chaired by Vince Natoli (AMV Fresh).

Recent activities of the YEC include,

Market Hours Review

Market operating hours have been a major issue for attracting and retaining young people in the market. The history can be traced back over half a decade with the most recent review and changes resulting from the 2007 YEC submission to the MMA. At the start of 2010 the YEC undertook to revisit the issue with the development of a detailed review of market hours under the context of economic and social impacts.

The 75 page study compared the starting times in other central markets in Australia and Melbourne’s competitive “disadvan-tage” (first to open and everyone bases the pricing equation on us); the chang-ing operational requirements of modern

wholesale businesses; and the operating “disadvantage” resulting from early buyer entry and little or ad-hoc compliance by the operator.

The study also looked at the results of the ‘Pit Stop’ health checks, recent research studies on sleep deprivation and workplace safety from both an individual and busi-ness perspective. The impact on peoples’ health is disturbing and the definition of a ‘safe and healthy workplace’ is brought into question at the Footscray Road site.

Put simply, the study found that the present operating times do not reflect 2010 business models nor workplace health and safety and that there is an urgent need to change the mar-ket hours to 6.00am five days a week with effective compliance.

The Minister requested the YEC and the Fresh State leadership present the review findings directly him (May 2010). After a de-tailed presentation, the Minister agreed that the hours need to change and suggested that he would like to see a consultative approach used rather than a directive ap-proach from him. The YEC expressed con-cern that some individuals have a history of threats against those wishing to change hours in the past and that a more direct ap-proach from the minister is required.

The YEC is yet to receive the Minister’s official reply and action plan.

Forklift Challenge(See feature on pages 12 & 13)

An initiative of the YEC, this event was aimed at acknowledging and ‘testing’ the abilities of our fork-lift drivers. It was a fun event that highlighted safe forklift operation, the importance skill and precision and presented an opportunity for the ‘forkies’ to chat over a BBQ breakfast.

YEC fund raisingThe YEC has conducted a number of fund raises that are used to sup-plement costs for YEC participants to attend the Australian Chamber Conference, PMA Aust-NZ Fresh Event and the National Vegetable Leadership course. This provides a broader platform for development of our young people and allows them to gain experience outside their day to day work environment.

YEC monthly BBQTo grow support, the YEC hold a monthly BBQ on the last Thursday of the month outside the Fresh State office for interested young people (up to 40 years) to find out more about the YEC, share their views and participate if they so wish. All under 40s welcome!!

Blood bankThe YEC have arranged for the Australian Red Cross Blood Bank to commence visits to the markets. Please support this initiative.

yEc Recent activities:

YEC

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Full Member Companies Contact Telephone Email

Abix Investments (A Pignataro) Andy Pignataro 03 9689 9396

All Produce Traders Pty Ltd John Dennehy 03 9687 6418 allproduce@three.com.au

AMP Produce P/L Mario Fabbian 03 9687 3147

AMV Fresh Vince Natoli 03 9362 7340 amvfresh@optusnet.com.au

Anguey, R. Pty Ltd Stephen Wirtz 03 9687 6358 r_anguey@bigpond.com

Antonello Produce P/L Dino Antonello 03 9687 6699 ant.prod@bigpond.net.au

Australian Strawberry Distributors Pty Ltd Joe Ripepi 03 5964 4371 asd2@bigpond.com

Avanti Fresh Produce P/L Mark Lorenzetto 03 9687 7677 avantif@bigpond.net.au

Bao Loc Investment Bao Loc Nguyen 03 9362 7615 jlocbrosproduce@gmail.com

Barkers Melbourne Ross Barker 03 9396 1777 barkers@barkersmelbourne.com.au

Betta Produce Tony Butera 03 9687 2669 bettaproduce@iprimus.com.au

BGP Produce Pty Ltd Glen Saunders 03 9689 9132 admin@bgp.com.au

Big Valley Produce Pty Ltd Joe Scarso 03 9689 7600 scarso@bigpond.com

Biodynamic Marketing Co. Ltd Peter Podolinsky 03 9689 1972 admin@biodynamic.com.au

BRP Wholesalers Garry Pasini 03 9687 9355 garrypasini@bigpond.com

Brancatisano, V. & Sons (Fruit) Pty Ltd Vince Brancatisano 03 9687 1370 vbfruit@ozemail.com.au

Brancatisano, V. & Sons (Veg) Pty Ltd Vince Brancatisano 03 9689 4600 admin@vbveg.com.au

Brescia (Vic) Pty Ltd Gerard Amalfi 03 9687 6011 brescia@brescia-ws.com.au

Camptara Alex Campisi 03 9687 3499

Chin, S. H. Bros. Pty Ltd Alby/Nick Chin 03 9687 2859 nick@comcen.com.au

Coolibah Herbs Brett Williams 03 9687 2922 market@coolibah.com.au

Costa’s Pty Ltd Anthony Costa 03 9689 8099 bananas@costas.com.au

Dennis Hanger P/L Dennis Raftopoulos 03 9687 2038

Dimattina Provedoring Pty Ltd Anthony Pirera 03 9689 5511 admin@dimattina.com.au

Dykes Bros Pty Ltd Brian Dykes 03 9687 9150 brian@dykesbros.com

Eco Farms Pty Ltd Phil Rougon 03 9362 0489 tsullivan@ecofarms.com.au

Elite Produce- Ace Holdings Pty Ltd T/A Frank Barbaro 03 9396 1900 elitefruit@bigpond.com

F Legudi P/L Dominic Legudi 03 9689 4401

Ferlazzo, G. & Co. Pty Ltd Shane Clay 03 9687 6890 info@ferlazzo.com.au

Ferrinda Fresh Pty Ltd Ross Ferrinda 03 9687 0111 ferrindafresh@bigpond.com

Flavorite Marketing Pty Ltd Grant Nichol 03 9687 2444 grant.nichol@flavoritemarketing.com.au

Flowerdale Fresh Darren Younger 03 9396 1920

Flowerdale Sprout Farm James Rattray 03 57802347 james@flowerdalesproutfarm.com.au

Fonzie’s Produce Pty Ltd Fonse Muratore 03 9689 0525 fonziesproduce@bigpond.com.au

Fresh Berry Co Ian Mills 03 9739 1305 freshberryco@bigpond.com

Fresh Centre Wholesalers Pty Ltd Ian Mills ian@freshcentre.com.au

Fresh Crop Vic P/l Vince Corrone 03 9737 9458 freshcropvic1@bigpond.com

Fresh Cut Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd Ken Alush 03 9687 1509 freshcut@optusnet.com.au

Fresh Exchange David Hayford Hobbs 03 9687 5271 david.hayford-hobbs@tradingexchange.com.au

Fresh Generation Gerry Katiforis 03 9687 9225 freshgeneration@bigpond.com

Fresh Growers Carmelo Motta 03 5997 1343 motta@mottaproduce .com.au

Fruit Avenue Thomas Lamanna 03 9687 2602 tiklara@bigpond.com

Gangelhoff, Alan Produce (Nom) Pty Ltd Alan Gangelhoff 03 9687 6636 sales@gangelhoff.com.au

Gazzola Farms Paul Gazzola 03 5977 8921 mail@gazzolafarms.com.au

Geelong Citrus Packers P/L Andrew Thierry 0418 506 619 office@geelongcitrus.com

Granieri’s Fresh Produce Pty Ltd Anthony Granieri 03 8080 7180 granierifreshproduce@iprimus.com.au

Great Australian Mushroom Co Wes Arnott 03 9689 1390 gramcoadmin@bigpond.com

Great Southern Fruit Growers Mark Paganoni 03 9689 6857 atlanta@surf.net.au

Hai Ha Supplies Pty Ltd Ha Lu 03 9890 2478

HC Produce Horace Cucinotta 03 9687 3218 hcproduce@bigpond.com

Holman Fresh Anthony Holman 03 9689 5122 anthony@holman.com.au

JP Fruit Peter Cheesewright 03 937 07160 pcheesewright@bigpond.com

Just Onions Pty Ltd Alan Thierry 03 5229 7499 justonions@bigpond.com

fresh State full memberships

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Kapiris Bros. (Vic) Pty Ltd Harry Kapiris 03 9689 6711 kbmail@kapirisbros.com.au

Kelly, I. & J. M. Pty Ltd Geoffrey Kelly 03 9687 4022 iankellycitrus@three.com.au

L A Produce Pty Ltd Laurie Usai 03 9687 4382 jammu6@westnet.com.au

Lamanna Bananas Pty Ltd Bernard Treacy 03 9687 5300 admin@lamanna.com.au

Latorres Fruit & Vegetable Wholesalers P/L Rocky Grillo 03 9362 7922 latorres@bigpond.com.au

LIS Future Development Elvis Haykal 03 9687 5263 elvis@msafco.com

Louis Melbourne Con Karinicolos 03 9689 9033 info@louismelbourne.com

Lowe, P & R Peter Lowe 03 9798 6548 rhondalowe62@hotmail.com

M & M Wholesale Fruit & Veg Pty Ltd Mario Mamo 0415 850 131

M. & N. Fresh Produce Nick Conidi 03 9687 9889

Market City Fruits Pty Ltd Laurie Thompson 03 9689 9071 marketcf@bigpond.com

Mason Fresh Chris Mason 0412 339 495 ckmason@bigpond.net.au

Melba Fresh Pty Ltd Lou Ponte 03 9687 2950 accounts@melbafresh.com.au

Melbourne Pear Co Pty Ltd Robert Apted 03 9687 1269 melbournepear@bigpond.com

Mildura Fresh Pty Ltd Fred Pascale 03 9689 2600 jpascale@bigpond.com

Moraitis Fresh (Vic) Pty Ltd Steve Grillo 03 9687 1408 sgrillo@moraitis.com.au

Moraitis Wholesale Pty Ltd Steve Grillo 03 9687 1408 sgrillo@moraitis.com.au

Moss, J. & Sons Pty Ltd Josh Moss 03 9687 3166

Mountain Harvest Produce Pty Ltd Nic Moro 03 9689 1133 nmoro4@hotmail.com

Mumford Wholesalers Pty Ltd Frank Maiuto 03 9687 5234 info@mumfords.com.au

Mushroom Centre Melb Pty Ltd Alfonso Luezzi 03 9584 8953 aleuzzi@bigpond.net.au

Mushroom Mania Jim Loe 03 9813 8802

MV Napoleone & Co (Red Rich Fruits) Tony Divencentis 03 5964 4596 red_rich_orchards@bigpond.com

My Personal Fruiterer Harry Paskins 03 9314 1607 myfruit@bigpond.net.au

NNH Fresh Produce Pty Ltd Cuong Pham 0433 449 060 richiepham1@yahoo.com.au

Omega Produce Bill Prokopiou 03 9689 1006 office@omegaproduce.com.au

Opaljade Pty Ltd Charles Chan 03 9687 0488 opaljade@optusnet.com,au

Organic Growers Group Don Edwards 03 9687 4334 info@organicgrowersgroup.com.au

PC Produce Paul Cristiano 03 9687 1744 pcproduce@bigpond.com

Perfection Fresh Pty Ltd Brett Collins 03 9687 6989 brettcollins@perfection.com.au

Piccolo, F & L Frank Piccolo 0412 329 143 piccolomarketing@bigpond.com

PJ Nash Pty Ltd Phillip Nash 03 9687 1687 westmor@bigpond.net.au

Ponte, C. & S. Produce Pty Ltd Lou Ponte 03 9867 5689 jmp@ponte.com.au

Premier Fruits Pty Ltd Joe Petroro 03 9687 7725 premierfruits@premierfruits.com.au

Prestia Wholesalers Pty Ltd Frank Prestia 03 9689 4569 prestia@primus.com.au

Prestia, A. Pty Ltd Tom Prestia 03 9687 5500

Prestige Produce Vinnie Brancatisano 03 9687 6449 vince@prestigeproduce.com.au

Priest Bros Marketing Shane Priest 03 5941 2416 priestorchards@bigpond.com

Produce Connection Joe Pignataro 03 5964 8188 admin@produceconnection.com.au

Produce of Virginia Pty Ltd Michael Evangelou 03 9687 3248 pproduce@bigpond.net.au

Raft Produce (Aust) Pty Ltd Michael Raft 03 9689 6555 raftproduce@bigpond.net.au

Ray Gregory & Sons Joe Gregory 0438 359 275

Regal Produce Pty Ltd Tony Gallace 03 9687 3393 regalproduce@bigpond.com

Rich River Produce Pty Ltd Dominic De Pietro 03 9689 5186 dominicdepietro@bigpond.com

Rosengal Wholesale Pty Ltd David Galati 03 9687 2331 rosengalwholesale@bigpond.com

Sacca Bros William Hilsaca 03 9334 2508 saccabros@optusnet.com.au

Sam Velisha Pty Ltd Sam Velisha 03 9742 1922 sam@velisha.com.au

Sculli & Co. Pty Ltd Dean Sculli 03 9687 2255 sculli@sculli.com.au

Silk Bros (Melb) Pty Ltd Peter Silk 03 9687 6821 peterksilk@bigpond.com

South East Asia Produce P/L Van Nguyen 03 9687 8400 vankiem@net2000.com.au

Star Fruit Pty. Ltd Mick Sgro 03 9687 3277 nick@bananasplus.com.au

Sunzest - The Organic Grower Bill Gennimatas 03 9689 2059 sunzestorganic@bigpond.com

T C Produce Pty Ltd Sam Cutrale 03 9687 3414 tcproduce1@bigpond.com.au

The Apple Arcade Phillip Brancatisano 03 9689 9160 apples@bigpond.net.au

The Fruit Specialist Joe Amalfi 0418 869 011

The Grape House Charlie Costa 03 5026 4869 charlie@grapehouse.com.au

issue 01 september 2010

27

Tripod Farmers Frank Ruffo 03 5367 4861 frank@tripodfarmers.com.au

Tripodi Produce Pty Ltd Sam Tripodi 03 9687 6684 atripodi@yahoo.com

Universal Fresh Don Garita 03 9689 0931

Veli Velisha Fresh Produce Veli Velisha 03 9689 9384 velivelisha1@bigpond.com

Vemark Pty Ltd John Salvestrin 03 9311 1422 vmark@primus.com.au

Venuto, A. & Co. Pty Ltd Ross Venuto 03 9687 6818 ross@venuto.com.au

Verona Fruit Supply Pty Ltd Ross Madafferi 03 9687 5300

VFS Produce Paul Angelucci 03 9687 9090 vfspro@bigpond.net.au

Young Sang & Co. Pty Ltd Joe Palumbo 03 9687 2427 youngsangaus@bigpond.com

fresh State associate membershipsAssociate Member Companies Contact Telephone Email

Berkis, G. & H Steve Berkis 03 9689 8679

Bonadio Wholesale Fruit Dist Vic Pty Ltd Sam Georgi 03 9857 5836 sgeorgi@optusnet.com.au

Brighton Hall Investments Pty Ltd (East End Hire) Vince Calavetta 03 9687 2022

Brightsons Technology Pty Ltd Min Jau Chai 0401 479 972 minjchau@bigpond.com

City Fresh Wholesalers Anthony Mutton 03 9354 7377 anthony@cityfreshwholesalers.com.au

Clemmens, David David Clemmens 03 9397 3278

Commercial & General Coolrooms Cyril Saltmarsh 03 9397 3278 commgen@satline.com.au

Dalson P/L - Vito Hire Vito Silvaggio 0412 532 459

El Sheikh, N L & I Abe El Sheikh 03 9689 4517

Eurofruit Pty Ltd Fred Viglione 03 9362 0000 fred@eurofruit.com.au

Fairbanks Selected Seed Co Brendan Foley 03 9689 4500 fairbanks.seeds@fairbanks.com.au

Favero Gardens Silvio Favero 03 5996 0314 favgar@bigpond.com

Freni & Doria Vince Doria 03 5998 1233 frenidoria@bigpond.com.au

Fresh 2 U Vince Demarte 03 9687 9322 enquiries@fresh2u.com.au

Fresh Centre Unloading Service Pty Ltd Robert Rain 03 9687 6897 fcus@bigpond.com

Gioia Group Pty Ltd Frank Anile 03 9331 0859

Gaylon Agencies Pty Ltd Sam Richter 03 9687 5392

Guys Freight Service Sam Guy 03 9687 1646 guysfreight@bigpond.com

Harris Refrigerated P/L Wes Pickering 08 8260 9999 wespickering@harrisrefrigerated.com.au

Inner City Refrigeration Orfeo Panaccio 03 9311 0911 orfy@innercityrefrigeration.com.au

JED Cleaning Jim Edmonds

Koch & Co Pty Ltd, HE Karl Papaioannoy 08 9741 4999 karlp@koch.com.au

Konidaris, J & S John Konidaris 03 9689 4627

Lake Boga Produce Michael Armstrong 0408 996 850 micka@weterntruckrepairs.com.au

Lu Ve Contardo Pty Ltd John Mignano 03 9464 1433 john@luve.comau

Market West Hire Grant Cockburn

Melbourne Insurance Brokers Mark Perree 03 9686 0688 mark@mibrokers.com.au

Melbourne Markets Credit Service Pty Ltd Ralph Blakeley 03 9687 7333 mmmcs@melbmcs.com.au

Murray Produce Metro Pty Ltd Melissa Grylls 0418 559 822

Nu Fruit Pty Ltd Jason Campagna 03 9689 8936 patersonm@nufruit.com.au

Orino Pty Ltd Terry Konstantakakis 03 9687 3230

Paul Philips Transport Pty Ltd Paul Phillips 03 5996 7343

Piscioneri Transport Services Larry Piscioneri 03 5025 7118 larry@pts-transport.com.au

Rainfresh Ernesto Campagna 03 8379 9300 rainfresh@rainfresh.com.au

Robinsons Unloading Scott/Mark 03 9687 1155 robinsonsunloading@bigpond.com

Rudge Produce Systems P/L Terry Rudge 03 9689 1234 admin@rudge.com.au

Sculli Strathmore Frank Deluise 0409 238 731

Stanley Hall Pty Ltd (Piedmonte) Joe Piedmonte 03 9481 1600

Stokes & Hammond 03 6234 3754

Tas Freight 03 6426 1201

Toyota Material Handling Steve Lelean 0411 721 112

Victorian Polystyrene Recyclers Peter Scoleri 03 96872110 info@victorianpolystyrenerecycling.com

S O L U T I O N S F O R E V E R Y P A L L E T ®

1800 425 438www.toyotamaterialhandling.com.au

It really is no surprise that Toyota Material Handling sells more forklifts than any other company in the Australian Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Markets.With Australia’s biggest range of forklifts and the commitment to customer service and after-sales

support you’d expect from the market leader*, we guarantee to deliver the best quality material handling solutions all year round, no matter what the season. So give us a call and get a fresh forklift deal today.

Guess who’s the number one forklift choicein the Australian markets?

*Source: Logistik Journal 2009

TMH0011 Markets_FP_Final_3mm_bleed.indd 1 29/7/10 4:06:29 PM