In the Field

Day three of the Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarship

 

Today the Woolies Ag scholars were out in the field and visited the Sydney Markets at Flemington. These markets are well known as the 2nd largest terminal market in the world. Approximately 30% of all fresh produce on Australian dinner tables has passed through the gates at Flemington.

 

Eggplants are all checked for specification (to make sure that fit the requirements to bring you, the consumer, a high quality product) at Hydro Produce at the Sydney Markets.

 

They are a hive of activity with over 800 forklifts racing back and forth ferrying everything from eggplants to onions and every other imaginable piece of produce in between.

 

The main produce market is made up of stall spaces, which the market agents buy in order to have a space to sell their produce. The main wholesale produce market's clientele is predominately professional produce buyers from supermarkets, independent greengrocers and restaurants.

 

Wholesale produce stalls within the sheds at Sydney Markets. Each doorway and overhead banner represents a different vendor and each has their produce on display out the front. (This is just part of one row - there are several!)

 

While supermarkets like Woolworths do a lot of direct contracts with suppliers, they also still have buyers within the wholesale produce market and source some of their produce here as well.

 

The main challenge discussed with us by fresh produce wholesalers was getting kids to eat more fruit and vegetables. The Sydney Markets group has put together a "Fresh for Kids" program aimed at school-age kids to encourage them to have a more active, healthier lifestyle through exercise and eating more fresh fruit and vegetables. This program is being used within schools and also has information and support tools available for parents to help encourage education and consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables to keep them healthy.

 

Australian consumers are extremely lucky that we have such high quality fresh fruit and vegetables available and that these are proudly produced to the highest standards by our Australian growers.