The winning bid of 165,000 Australian dollars was made by Talal and Joanne Khanafer with the support of Sydney Markets, Sydney Markets Credit Services, and a group of Sydney Markets companies. A box of cherries from the Warby Ranges in the northeast of Victoria was sold for a record-breaking 165,000 Australian dollars during the annual Cherry Ball hosted by the Sydney Markets Foundation.
The box of cherries came from Smiths Fruit in Wangaratta, which has been operating for nearly 150 years, and was specially selected during an official tasting event before the cherry auction. The winning bid of 60,000 dollars was made by Talal and Joanne Khanafer of Trims Fresh Merrylands, with additional donations totaling 105,000 Australian dollars, including 25,000 dollars from Sydney Markets on behalf of its shareholders, 20,000 dollars from Sydney Markets Credit Services, and another 60,000 dollars from a consortium of Sydney Markets companies and individuals.
The cherry auction will see the full amount of 165,000 dollars donated to the 2024 charity partner, Little Wings. The organization provides free, safe, and professional air and ground transport to seriously ill children in regional and rural towns of New South Wales, Australia, and Queensland. The annual Cherry Auction has raised approximately 2 million Australian dollars since its inception in 1980. Meegan George, CEO of the Sydney Markets Foundation, stated that the cherry auction allows the market community to celebrate the stone fruit season in style, along with the fresh produce industry and corporate donors.
Little Wings CEO Clare Pearson expressed her excitement about the outcome and the support shown by the market community. “The funds raised by the Sydney Markets Foundation will help families in our regional communities continue to access vital transport services, enabling their children to reach appointments, clinics, and treatments,” said Pearson.
Read the full article: Fruitnet
Image: Fruitnet
11 Jun 2025
A recent study in Ukraine's steppe region analyzed 35 sour cherry combinations to identify the most drought-tolerant, evaluating key physiological traits like water retention, leaf hydration, turgor recovery and plant response to extended water deficit stress.
14 Jan 2026
Tart cherry juice is rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds that help reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and influence gene expression. Recent studies highlight its potential in preventing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
26 Jun 2026
A three-year study in Poland compares organic and conventional sour cherries, showing that cultivar, climate and season affect fruit quality more than orchard management alone. Oblačinska stands out as the most promising cultivar for high-quality organic production.
26 Jun 2026
A Tasmanian study examines how clear and opaque rain covers change orchard microclimate, light, leaf physiology and cherry quality, combining replicated field trials and grower case studies to help producers improve fruit performance, harvest timing and storage potential.
