$29K for season’s first tray
HOW much would you pay for the mango season’s first delicious tray?
Well, according to Fruity Capers owner Nuccio Camuglia, $29,000 is a fair price.
Knowing all the money would go to a good cause, Mr Camuglia was honoured to make the near-$30,000 bid at the annual Brisbane Produce Market Charity Mango Auction.
“This wasn’t about me, it’s about the charities that the money is going towards,” he said.
“I know it’s a lot of money, but in my eyes it’s $29,000 well spent.”
The auction, which officially launched this year’s mango season, was a hub for sporting star power, with NRL legend Sam Thaiday and welterweight title holder Jeff Horn on hand.
The pair keenly participated in a gloves-on mango eating competition before the auction got under way.
Growing up in north Queensland, mangoes were a seasonal treat for Sam and his family.
“We would put plastic bags on our trees so the fruit bats wouldn’t get them,” he said.
“So as a young kid I would be climbing up the tree, braving the green ant bites, and trying to do that job.
“We were always waiting for and loved mango season when I was a kid.”
Brisbane Markets chairman Tony Joseph said the charity auction raised more than $38,000 and proceeds from the event would go directly to Diabetes Queensland and Life Education.
Sam has been an avid supporter of promoting healthy lifestyles and fresh-food diets, being an ambassador for Diabetes
Queensland and also working with Your Local Fruit Shop.
Through that work he met, and formed a friendship with, celebrity chef Matt Golinski.
At the event, Matt prepared a delicious and fresh breakfast for food bloggers and guests.
“I have met Matt and had the chance to cook with him,” Sam said.
“We have even talked about doing some things going forward, maybe even after footy.
“So it would be good to see where Matt and (my) relationship goes and to see what we can do… and hopefully we can help a few along the way.”
Sam’s parents both have type 2 diabetes so he said
promoting healthy diets was “near and dear” to his heart.
Living on the Sunshine Coast, Matt said he visited his local fresh-fruit grocer every day.
“I go in there and pick out what I am going to have for dinner every single day,” he said.
“And it’s not because I am too stupid to go to the supermarket and buy everything at once, it’s because I want to see when the mangos have come into season.
“We talk about buying fresh produce and buying local, and you can do that for warm and fuzzy reasons, for helping the community, but from a chef point of view I say that genuinely because it tastes the best,” Matt said.
❝We would put plastic bags on our trees so the fruit bats wouldn’t get them. — Sam Thaiday