Innovative win for Odeum

The winner of the Brisbane Produce Market Innovative Marketing Award, which is one of the Australian Vegetable Industry Awards hosted by AUSVEG, was announced at an Award dinner in Perth last weekend.

The judging criteria for the Innovative Marketing Award include:

(1) An innovative marketing solution, product, process or program,
(2) The creation of new market opportunities for vegetables or vegetable products, and
(3) Has had a significant impact on the industry and has the potential to have positive influence in the longer term.

The two finalists for the 2008 Innovative Marketing Award were Odeum Produce Pty Ltd from Western Australia and Matilda Fresh Foods from Queensland.

Both finalists were worthy of selection however, the winner was Odeum Produce Pty Ltd, a company which has set benchmarks for future market tends that have been followed nationwide.  Their range of innovations into the marketplace continue to promote the ease of use and consumption of vegetables. In 2001, Odeum Produce introduced the peeled onion to help boost consumer confidence in a falling market.

Since then, many other businesses have incorporated this processing technique into their operations. In 2004, Odeum Produce introduced Western Australia to pre-cut pumpkins, allowing the vibrant pumpkin flesh to be displayed on-shelf.

Specially developed shrink-wrap film provided sufficient breathability to extend the shelf life of the finished product to more than seven days.

Other Australian Vegetable awards announced on the night included the Landini Grower of the Year, won by Peter Schreurs from Victoria, the AUSVEG Chairman's Award, won by Peter Cochrane from Victoria, and the Landmark Young Grower of the Year won by Chris Mills, also from Victoria.

Our congratulations go to all the winners.