THE Leukaemia Foundation has received a donation of $50,000 after a five-kilogram box of Cevavolo cherries was knocked down to Rainbow Fresh, lettuce growers from Lewiston.
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To celebrate the 2022 SA cherry season, SA's wholesale fruit and vegetable market community went head to head in an auction bidding war last month in Pooraka to raise money for the charity.
Rainbow Fresh director Giuseppe Giangregorio was crowned the Cherry King, and was supported by a number of sponsors including:
- Ashton Valley Fresh
- The Romeo Foundation
- The William Buck Foundation
- The South Australian Produce Market
- The SA Chamber of Fruit and Veg
- SA Mushrooms
- Other silent parties who contributed to the final donation.
The $50,000 donation matched last year's record price where the cherries sold at a premium of $10,000 per kilogram.
Mr Giangregorio said he was known as the lettuce king around the produce market and his farm.
"To be crowned the cherry king is something different," he said.
"I like to donate to help people, these people need help and I could do something about it.
"I knew I was going to see the auction right through to win."
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Primary industries and regional development minister Clare Scriven officially opened the SA cherry season and crowned Mr Giangregorio.
Ms Scriven said SA's cherries were the symbol marking the beginning of the festive season.
"Regardless of the late season and the cold snaps we have got, we can all be assured of a beautiful centrepiece of glorious glossy cherries for Christmas," she said.
"I encourage everyone to continue to support our local growers as much as possible during this summer season.
"The 2022 South Australian cherry season is now officially open."
Charity boost most welcome
LEUKAEMIA Foundation consumer engagement coordinator Matt Eby said the donation was massive for their charity.
"It's going to impact the 135,000 Australians living with blood cancer as that's really who it is supporting," he said.
"It helps the Leukemia Foundation ensure the blood cancer patients living across the country can have access to the right information, care and support at the right time whilst they're fighting this disease and they can have somebody that they can reach out to, connect with us, every step of the way.
"We have a vision to cure and a mission to care and the money is funding research, as well as our entire support services team to work with the patients, caregivers and families.
"We were just delighted to be selected by SA Produce Market as their cherry-ity of choice."
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Kiara Stacey
Journalist for Stock Journal. Kiara was in classified sales at Stock Journal before joining the editorial team in 2021. Kiara completed a Bachelor of Communication (journalism) at Deakin University the year prior.
Journalist for Stock Journal. Kiara was in classified sales at Stock Journal before joining the editorial team in 2021. Kiara completed a Bachelor of Communication (journalism) at Deakin University the year prior.
