The 2011 Melon Marketing Forum for growers and industry was held at Townsville Jupiter's Casino on Friday 1 July and Saturday 2 July.

The Forum examined national and international approaches to marketing and held discussions on future opportunities for the melon category in Australia. Speakers from the USA and Australia were featured.

Presentations:

• Opportunities for Australian watermelon promotions & marketing 

• Increasing consumer demand via marketing, promotion & education

Mark Arney
Executive Director - National Watermelon Promotion Board
Mark Arney is a produce veteran having over 30 years experience in the industry.His has held his current position as the executive director of the National Watermelon Promotion Board since 2003.

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Martin Kneebone
Director - Freshlogic Martin has a detailed understanding of the Australian Food Market as a result of working in all sectors of the supply chain, including 10 years in corporate retail food. His company Freshlogic is based in Melbourne and provides market intelligence and consulting services to those operating in fresh food supply chains. Freshlogic owns and operates the Mealpulse' food consumer panel.

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David Weisz
Marketing Mgr - Horticulture Australia<
David was recently appointed as Horticulture Australia's Marketing Manager for bananas, summer fruit and the turf industries. He has worked in Marketing, Communications and Business Development for more than 10 years. David offers multi industry expertise encompassing FMCG/Food, Entertainment, Music & Publishing industries.

Wayne Prowse
Export & Trade Consultant Wayne has worked in food marketing for almost 30 years & the past seven as Export Development Manager for Horticulture Australia where he worked with various fruit and nut industries to develop export trade into Asia and Europe.

• Download presentation on Possibilities for export of melons

• Download video presentation - Melon Exports & Market Development

Antony Allen
Chief Executive Officer - Avocados Australia
Antony has 18 years of horticultural industry knowledge and worked in many horticultural companies in senior management. He joined the Avocado Industry in 2002 as the CEO of Australian Avocado Growers Federation (AAGF) and was instrumental in restructuring the AAGF to allow grower members direct and equal access to their national organisation, and in 2003 became CEO of the newly formed Avocados Australia.
Over the past eight years Antony has positioned Avocados Australia as a strong and effective peak industry body.

Vanessa Kennedy
Industry Liaison Officer - Brisbane Markets Limited
Vanessa is the Industry Liaison Officer with Brisbane Markets, a role she has held for the past six years. By coordinating the Brisbane Produce Market's relationship with the fruit and vegetable industry, Vanessa is able to work with local growers and industry groups, helping to manage government and media relationships regarding grower issues.
From a long career in journalism, Vanessa successfully compiles the quarterly Fresh Source industry magazine which is distributed nationwide.

• Download powerpoint presentation on Using the central markets to promote melons
  

• Download video presentation - Promoting melons through Fresh For Kids & Schools Tuck Shop Program & the Retailers Program

Trevor Brewer
Proprietor - Ausmarket Consultants
Market Information Services, the business that Trevor and his wife formed, operates the Fruit and Vegetable Market Price Reporting Service in the Brisbane Market today. They also started two other complimentary businesses. Ausmarket Consultants collates and distributes Market Reports and Data where information from a number of different markets is required. Brisbane Market Produce Surveyors is the major independent inspection service in the Brisbane Markets and its activities reach across most sectors of the industry.

Trevor gave a valuable insight into the workings of maket reporting

Treena Welch
One Harvest

One Harvest is a third generation family owned & operated business renowned for its leadership & innovation within the fresh produce industry. Celebrating 24 years with the business, Treena Welch is considered an industry leader, a company asset and an honorary family member. During the course of her career with OneHarvest she has spearheaded the company's approach to marketing. She is highly skilled at identifying & commercialising new product & new business opportunities. Career highlights include Shepard Avocados, Seedless Watermelon and the highly successful FreshCuts business with a current turnover of $110M and factories in Qld, NSW & WA. In her current position Treena is responsible for marketing the company's fastest growing product, the Calypso Mango.

Richard de Vos
Planning, development and marketing consultant specialising in horticulture and agriculture.

For the proposed Watermelon Levy, Richard's role is to guide the AMA through the required process, ensuring that the 'Levy Principles and Guidelines' determined by the Commonwealth Government are carefully followed. He is working closely with AMA to build a comprehensive database of growers and ensure all are fully informed about the levy and have the opportunity to vote in the ballot.

Download presentation on Introducing a marketing levy

Click here to read information about the Return On Investment from a levy for watermelon growers

MELON MARKETING FORUM - GOLD SPONSORS

 

MELON MARKETING FORUM - SILVER SPONSORS

 

MELON MARKETING FORUM - TRADE SPONSORS

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