Season’s first tray of South Australian strawberries sold for $17,500 in charity auction

· Every month Variety Australia delivers more than $1 million to children and families in need who can’t afford specialist care and equipment. — **· Every month Variety Australia** delivers more than **$1 million to children and families in need** who can’t afford specialist care and equipment.

For the first time, South Australia has held a charity auction to launch the start of its spring and summer strawberry season.

In similar fashion to the annual mango auction in Queensland, the South Australian strawberry industry decided to hold the auction in response to the struggle strawberry farmers have faced following more than 100 incidents of needles found in Australian strawberries earlier this year.

The strawberry auction was held on I Choose SA Day, October 27, which promotes South Australian produce and suppliers and encourages people to support local producers and businesses. All proceeds from the auction were donated to Variety SA, which support children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with special needs.

For more information on Variety SA visit variety.org.au/sa.

· Variety Australia has raised more than $200 million for children in need over the last 30 years. — · **Variety Australia** has raised more than **$200 million for children in need** over the last 30 years.

Sarah Hinder6 November 2018