Frustrated fruit and vegetable wholesalers from the Epping Market held a protest today outside the Melbourne Market Authority, voicing their anger over a massive rent increase announced last week.
The Government-owned Authority - which operates Victoria's largest fruit and vegetable trading centre – plans to hit wholesalers with an eye-watering 100 percent rent hike over the next 10 years.
Speaking at the protest, Fresh State CEO Jason Cooper said the rent increase would push many of its wholesaler members over the edge. Mr. Cooper said since going public with the rent increase, he was surprised by the widespread lack of understanding about the wholesale industry.
"There have been some misinformed comments recently," Mr Cooper said (see below). "People should check their facts. The facts are this rent increase is a recipe for disaster. It will not only push fruit and vegetable prices up, but also push wholesalers out of business, and push families, restaurants, and grocers to the brink. With fresh produce we are headed towards a much bigger cost-of-living crisis than many people think," he said.
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