A $70,000 tray of mangoes has marked the start of Queensland’s mango season, with a Victoria Point produce business securing the symbolic first tray and the title of 2026 Mango Monarch.
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The winning bid came from Elijah Etri of the Skippy’s group, which operates Skippy’s Fresh Frootz at Victoria Point. The 2026 Brisbane Markets Mango Auction raised more than $82,000 for Queensland charities Redkite and The Lady Musgrave Trust, including Etri’s $70,000 winning bid. Brisbane Markets said the bid was the second-highest in the auction’s history.
A $70,000 Bid
Skippy’s Fresh Frootz was founded in 2018 as a local family-owned and operated business, with its Victoria Point store located at Lakeside Shopping Centre. The business has since expanded beyond Victoria Point, with Skippy’s also operating a store at Rothwell.
Brisbane Markets lists Skippy’s Farmhouse at Cleveland, Skippy’s Fresh Frootz at Victoria Point and Skippy’s Market Fresh at Rothwell, with a fourth location at Mt Gravatt announced to open on September 20.
For the auction, the prize was a tray of 14 Kensington Pride mangoes from NT Happy in Darwin. The fruit formed part of the first Australian mango crop of the season, with the auction marking the symbolic start of mango season.
At $70,000 for 14 mangoes, the winning bid works out to about $5000 per fruit. Etri said the mangoes would be taken home and shared among those at Skippy’s, rather than being sold individually.
Supporting Queensland Families
The fundraising behind the auction will benefit two organisations working with Queensland families facing difficult circumstances. Redkite supports families facing childhood cancer, offering emotional, financial and practical assistance. Its services include counselling as well as help with everyday expenses such as bills, groceries and petrol.
The Lady Musgrave Trust supports young women and their children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Its work includes providing safe housing and support to help women secure and maintain stable accommodation.
Brisbane Markets said the more than $82,000 raised at this year’s auction would support the work of both charities. The event combines the arrival of the season’s first symbolic mangoes with a fundraising effort that extends beyond the produce market itself.
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For Wellington Point and nearby communities, the result also provides a local connection to the annual auction through Skippy’s Victoria Point store. While the winning bid was $70,000, the fundraising will support the work of Redkite and The Lady Musgrave Trust beyond the mango season.
Published 21-September-2026
