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Perth’s annual Charity Cherry Auction sparked a bidding war amongst the state’s fruit and vegie industry heavyweights this morning, as the first cherries of the season went under the hammer for a good cause.

An iconic WA tradition now in its 30th year, the Cherry Auction took place at Perth Markets in Canning Vale, with all proceeds from the event donated to Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The 2022 Cherry Auction raised a record total of $140,000, with the 5kg prize box of cherries from Sweet Cherry Valley selling for a whopping $49,000. The winning bid was placed by Frankie Galati, through a powerhouse joint bid between Galati Group and Fred Fairthorne of Fernbrook Fresh.

The joint bid means that Frankie Galati has been crowned this year’s Cherry King. In total 21kg of cherries donated by cherry growers from WA’s South West were auctioned.

Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson said: “Thanks to the generosity of our state’s fruit and veggie industry, the Cherry Auction has now raised more than $1.7 million for WA’s sick kids over the past three decades, which is absolutely incredible.”

In 2022, funds raised for PCHF at the Cherry Auction will benefit the Rare Care Centre, which coordinates research and advanced diagnostic approaches for the 63,000 WA kids with rare and undiagnosed diseases.

“The Rare Care Centre at Perth Children’s Hospital improves awareness and early identification of children with potential rare diseases,” Mr Robinson said.

“Additional funds for the Rare Care Centre will support more accurate diagnosis, improved care coordination and better access to community resources, clinical trials, and research for WA kids with rare and undiagnosed diseases and their families.”

With four children of his own, Frankie Galati is passionate about championing causes that focus on kid’s health. Since 2009, the Galati family have donated $293,000 to Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation via the Cherry Auction, including taking home the coveted Cherry King crown on four occasions as well as being crowned joint Cherry King in 2018, 2019 and now, 2022.

“The Cherry Auction has been going strong for 30 years now, and it’s once again been amazing to see everyone from the market community come together and dig deep to support WA kids,” Tony Galati said.
He added: “We’re also going to start to ramp up production and start growing more of our own cherries here in WA, to boost our local industry and reduce reliance on importing cherries from South Australia.”

Market West Chief Executive Rod McPherson said: “Market West is privileged to be able to coordinate and contribute to this fantastic outcome on behalf of our members, the Central Fresh Produce market traders. Our members and their customers are always strong supporters of the Charity Cherry Auction and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation’s work for affected kids and their families.

“Despite the current social environment, today the fresh produce industry again showed their commitment to the community, digging deep for a great cause. There was a terrific vibe at the auction today and it was reflected in the bidding and the result.”

The most expensive box of cherries ever sold at the event was in 2019, when a whopping $110,000 three-way bid was placed by John Ale (Tony Ale & Co), Tony Galati (Galati Group) and Fred Fairthorne (Fernbrook Fresh).

The Cherry Auction is run and hosted by Market West and Perth Markets Group Limited and supported by the Cherry Growers Association.

The 2022 Perth Markets Ball and WA Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year Awards were celebrated at Crown Ballroom on Friday 14th October.
After 20 consecutive years the awards continue to gain prestige and desirability among local fresh produce retailers.
The awards are an initiative of Market West, supported by naming rights partner Perth Markets Group Limited for eligible retailers who source high quality, fresh produce from the Perth central markets in Canning Vale.
WA Fresh Produce sourced from the Markets is a vital link in the agricultural supply chain. The industry remains a valuable contributor to the state’s economy, providing high levels of and diverse employment opportunities across a range of industry stakeholders. Quality fresh produce is a key component in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, particularly in the current social environment as the community continues to encounter an unprecedented health threat.
The awards are open to all retailers including local independent retailers, small stores and supermarket chains, both metropolitan and regional. 282 nominations were received and judged in 8 categories across a range of stringent criteria.

A near record 573 guests enjoyed a premium food and beverages while the winners were announced. The celebrations included a vibrant ‘Casino Royale – James Bond’ theme.

Winners of the 2022 Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year Awards are:

Fresh Produce Retailer of the Year
Napoli Mercato

Regional Store
Western Growers Fresh

Best Small Store
Lancelin IGA Express

‘A Better Choice’ Retailer of the Year
Tony Ale & Co

Best Fresh Produce Section within a National Supermarket – Metropolitan
Woolworths Rockingham

Best Fresh Produce Section within a National Supermarket – Regional
Coles Vasse

Best Fresh Produce Section within an Independent Supermarket – Metropolitan
Fresh Provisions Bicton

Best Fresh Produce Section within an Independent Supermarket – Regional
Dongara IGA

The COVID-19 Vax Bus is coming to the Perth Markets.

Roll up for WA on Thursday, 9th December 2021 between 7:00am and 12:00pm at the entrance to the CTA.

Please bring photo identification and your Medicare card.

The 2021 Perth Markets Golf Day held on the 26^th March 2021 was another great event after missing out in 2020 due to COVID-19. There were 19 teams who participated on the day at Secret Harbour Golf Links. The weatherman certainly put it on for all the players with a beautiful day for golf with a slight seabreeze coming in later in the day.

There were some great prizes up for grabs thanks to our sponsors Perth Markets, Toyota Materials Handling, Maddington and Canning Vale Toyota, Market City Meats, Origin Energy and Secret Harbour Golf Links.

Unfortunately, no one took out the hole in one prize at the 12^th Hole – a Toyota HiAce Van valued at $51,000 sponsored by Maddington and Canning Vale Toyota.

Nett Winners – Mercer Mooney

Best Gross – Quality Produce

Nett Runners up – DPD 3

Nearest to Pin on the 5^th – Dion Folias

Nearest to Pin on the 12^th – Paul Ieraci

Longest Drive on the 3^rd – Dat (KGC Transport)

Longest Drive on the 16^th – Hugh Nguyen

Market West would like to thank all of the sponsors and prize donors for helping to make the 2021 Perth Markets Golf Day a success and we look forward to seeing everyone back next year.

If you would like photos from the day please contact Michelle at the Market West Office on 9455 2742 or email admin@marketwest.com.au

On Tuesday, 2 February 2021, the State Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) released a gazettal notice regarding an outbreak of the Queensland Fruit Fly (Qfly) in Coolbellup. The notice places the Perth Markets’ Site within a 15km Quarantine Area. There are now requirements for how certain products can be handled, stored and transported in and out of the Quarantine Area (including the Perth Markets Site).

Tenants, Buyers and Transporters should work towards implementing the requirements as soon as possible. DPIRD will work with Tenants to implement compliance through education for the first 14 days, before monitoring compliance with enforcement. DPIRD (the State Government) will be responsible for the compliance.

For the list of products that this gazette applies to visit here.

If you have specific questions in relation to QFly Management, please contact the DPIRD Industry Liaison Officer Ian Wilkinson on (08) 9780 6278 / 0459 846 705 or IanS.Wilkinson@dpird.wa.gov.au .

Up to date information can also be found on the DPIRD website at www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biosecurity/biosecurity-alerts-queensland-fruit-fly-updates

Gazettal notice

View the State Government’s Gazettal notice

Treatment options

View the approved measures for the intrastate movement of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) host produce

The 28th Charity Cherry Auction at the Perth Markets held this morning saw heated competition between Perth’s highest-profile fresh produce retailers, who bid against one another for the title of Cherry King or Queen in support of Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

John Alessandrini – on behalf of his father Tony Alessandrini (Tony Ale) and the Alessandrini family – took out the title of Cherry King by purchasing a box of cherries for a generous $85,000. With a total of 7 boxes of cherries auctioned throughout the morning, the event raised $131,000 for Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation to help build WA’s first children’s hospice. In less than three decades the growers and produce community in WA has donated a staggering $1.5 million to the Foundation.

“Through the success of my father, we are in a fortunate position to be able to contribute in such a way to help improve the physical and mental health of our children,” Mr Alessandrini said.

“This year we are particularly focused on supporting the children’s hospice. I am blessed with four healthy children and three healthy grandchildren. The kids in palliative care don’t deserve the hand they have been dealt – and that motivates my family to contribute.”

Being delivered in partnership with the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS), the WA Children’s Hospice will provide care for children aged from birth to 18 years who have a life-limiting condition and require palliative care.

“Right now, there’s an estimated 2,000 children living with life-limiting illness who could benefit from this service – so we know this home away from home will make a significant difference to those WA families,” said Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson.

This humble Christmas tradition kicked off with the special arrival of the Foundation Christmas Ambassador Mahi – whose little sister Ziya passed away a year ago at 20 months old from a rare type of mitochondrial disease. She entered the central trading area in a cherry covered Toyota Hilux thanks to Maddington and Canning Vale Toyota.

Without available hospice facilities, Ziya’s parents made the hard decision for her to come home to live the end of her life. Mother Preeti Raghwani said the hospice would have provided an alternative space for them to have been together as a family throughout Ziya’s journey.

“I see the hospice as a type of Nirvana. A place for people to just be and to live. The whole essence of it is living – it isn’t dying. That was a part of it, but a very small part of it. The bigger picture is living the life that we have and making the most of it,” she said.

Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson said funds raised from the Cherry Auction, enable the Foundation to work closely with those on the frontline of children’s health to transform the lives of WA’s sick children.

“We are extremely grateful to Market West, the Perth Markets Group Limited, the Cherry Growers’ Association of WA and the State’s fresh produce wholesalers and retailers for their continued generous support. The difference that can be made by purchasing a box of cherries is immense,” added Mr Robinson.

As is always the case, 100% of proceeds directly benefit the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The Annual Charity Cherry Auction will be held on Friday 13^th December.

DATE: Friday 13^th December 2019
TIME: 7:00am to 9:00am
LOCATION: Central Trading Area Market City, Canning Vale

All bids for cherries are tax deductible and we can arrange for you to bid by phone if you can’t make it on the day.

Thanks to your generous support of the Cherry Auction, over $1,000,000 has been raised to support children and families at PMH and Perth Children’s Hospital.