Melbourne Market is Victoria’s wholesale fruit, vegetable and cut flower trading centre, one of six central fresh produce markets in Australia. The Melbourne Market is fundamental to Australia’s fresh produce industry as it provides the critical link between growers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors in the fresh produce supply chain. The Market complex includes the wholesale fruit and vegetable market, the flower market and extensive distribution and warehouse facilities. More than 4,000 businesses use the Market as a base, buying and selling fresh produce and cut flowers in the early hours of the morning for distribution across Victoria, Australia and exported internationally. This equates to over 7,000 active market users with average daily attendance figures in excess of 3,000. Over 1,800 individual fruit, vegetable and cut flower buyers, representing independent greengrocers, supermarkets, restaurants, florists, event stylists and food processors, to name a few, source their produce direct from the Market. An estimated $2 billion of produce is trading within the Market annually. Established under the Melbourne Market Authority Act 1977 (the Act), the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) serves the Victorian fruit, vegetable and cut flower industry, through the provision and operation of the market facilities. The MMA reports to the Victorian Minister for Agriculture (the Minister) via the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. The MMA consists of a five member board, supported by a management team and staff who are responsible for the day to day operations of the Market. The Act prescribes the following objectives and functions for the MMA: -To provide a commercially viable wholesale facility for the efficient distribution of fresh produce. -To optimise returns on land and assets controlled and managed by the MMA. -To ensure a fair and competitive environment for wholesale trading of produce.
