The West Australian cherry season launched today with the annual Market City Charity Cherry Auction once again seeing the price of cherries skyrocket briefly – all to aid a good cause.
Perth’s latest Cherry King, John Ale, of Tony Ale & Co, Jandakot, was crowned at the Market City Charity Cherry Auction when bidding ended at $50,000 on the last of eight boxes of cherries.
This generous record breaking effort beat John’s previous year’s efforts to retain the hotly contested Cherry King title for 2011.
This annual auction to launch of the WA cherry season raised a total of $89,630 this year to aid the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation (PMHF)’s Stitches the Bear and Tim Gossage of Channel 10, were on hand to crown the Cherry King and to thank all bidders for their fabulous contribution to the care of children at Western Australia’s iconic Princess Margaret Hospital.
PMHF CEO, Denys Pearce said the event was a special day as it contributes generously to the purchase of equipment to improve the care of children at the hospital.
Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries CEO, Martin Clark said Market City’s fresh produce industry is renowned for their generosity to a good cause.
“It is a great credit that fresh produce industry continues to support the Charity Cherry Auction every year”
“The cherry auction has raised over $632,630 for Princess Margaret Hospital in the 20 years since it began.”
This special event is made possible with the support of the Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries in WA, the Perth Market Authority, Toyota Material Handling, National Australia Bank and the Cherry Growers’ Association of WA.