In Brisbane’s case, he explains that “since the privatisation, in 2002, and over the last decade,” about 130 million dollars have been invested in upgrades, “with over 20,000 square metres of new warehouses and a major emphasis on site operating.” Meanwhile, in Sydney, investments have totalled 145 million dollars over the last decade and in South Australia there is also “on-going growth and development, with over 21 million dollars invested and the construction of a new 10,000 square metre storage facility.” Nationwide, he reports that more than 1 billion dollars have gone to such improvement.
Brismark, working together with Fresh Markets Australia (FMA) and the Central Markets Association of Australia (CMAA), is particularly focused on key issues such as health and safety or quality assurance, and “there’s also a lot going on in terms of product placement and distribution for growers, whether in state or overseas.”
Mr Young affirms that, in recent years, the most growth has been registered in the foodservice sector, “and as other speakers have noted, there’s a lot more product diversification than there was 10 years ago.” Furthermore, the growth of digital trading “has been good in improving communication with growers, and the trend of on-line sales is going to continue,” which will entail challenges for the logistics platforms provided by Central Markets.
All in all, Brismark is committed to ensuring primary wholesalers and growers continue to have good working relationships and maintain an understanding of each other’s concerns and issues. With its forged partnerships and alliances, the organisation will continue providing advocacy and support to industry representative bodies and consequently help promote the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.