Sweet victory: Skippy’s scoops 2026 Mango King crown with $70k bid

The 2026 Brisbane Markets Mango Auction has once again delivered an outstanding result, raising more than $82,000 to support Queensland charities Redkite and The Lady Musgrave Trust, while officially marking the sweet start of the Australian mango season.

The atmosphere was electric at the Brisbane Markets in Rocklea this morning, as Elijah Etri from the Skippy’s group secured the first symbolic tray of mangoes for the Australian mango season. His landmark bid of $70,000, the second highest ever recorded in the auction’s history, officially earned Elijah the prestigious title of 2026 Mango King.

As a proud member of the A better choice! independent retailer program, Skippy’s currently operates Skippy’s Farmhouse at Cleveland, Skippy’s Fresh Frootz at Victoria Point, and Skippy’s Market Fresh at Rothwell, with a fourth location set to open this Saturday, Skippy’s Mt Gravatt.

This morning featured a vibrant line-up of live entertainment, charity raffles and donated auction items, with every dollar raised helping provide practical support for families facing childhood cancer through Redkite and young women experiencing or at risk of homelessness through The Lady Musgrave Trust.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for us to support a couple of great causes and to give back to Queensland families who are doing it a bit tougher than most.”

“The Mango Auction is a great event, and we are here every year. We were lucky enough to win in 2022 and to be crowned again this year is very exciting, especially as we are about to open our fourth store this weekend. We have a great team of people at Skippy’s and even though they are not here, they are just as much a part of this win as we are.”

Brismark Chief Executive Officer and Brisbane Markets Managing Director and CEO Andrew Young said that the Mango Auction is a true highlight of the Brisbane Markets calendar.

Ready for the taste of summer? You can find the freshest Australian-grown mangoes at your local A better choice! fruit and veg retailer, sourced through Queensland’s Heart of Fresh Produce, the Brisbane Markets.