Be fair and shop Fairtrade

As a global community, isn’t it time we started to think about where our products come from, or at the very least, question the ethics of our purchases?

Each product has a lifeline from producer to purchaser; it will go through various stages of production before it reaches us. The average shopper leads a busy life, which doesn’t always allow the time to think about the ethics of their buying habits. But the sad reality is that many of the producers of our food are living in poverty: it’s why Fairtrade Fortnight is so important, and why Anglia Co-operative Society – now merged with Midlands Co-operative – is once again getting fully involved with Fairtrade Fortnight and flying the Fairtrade flag.

There were 878 Fairtrade Schools in the UK in 2012

Martyn Cheatle, Chief Executive for the newly-merged Society, said, ‘Fairtrade Fortnight is one of the most important events in the Co-operative calendar. We work hard all year to spread the word about why it’s vital for workers and growers in the developing world to get fair terms of trade, and these two weeks provide a real focus for this.

‘We organise many events and acitivites, including inviting pupils into our foodstores and visiting schools and community groups to inform children about the value of choosing Fairtrade products.’

There are 354 UK companies licensed to trade Fairtrade

Running from Monday, 24 February to Sunday, 9 March, Fairtrade Fortnight will mark the launch of a special national campaign that aims to transform the banana industry to ensure those at the sharp end of the supply chain – the millions of struggling banana farmers and workers in the Third World – get a fair deal. It’s a campaign to ‘Make Bananas Fair’ and is the next part of a three-year initiative to ‘Make Food Fair’.

89% of UK public trust the Fairtrade mark

Fairtrade guarantees that farmers and workers receive a fair wage for their work, and the money generated by Fairtrade products goes back into the communities helping to provide hospitals, schools, fresh water and many of the things we take for granted.

The Society is passionate about Fairtrade and has been supporting it since the inception of the Fairtrade mark back in 1994. It’s why Fairtrade Fornight is so vital, as it enables the Society the opportunity to showcase its year-round beliefs during two fun-packed weeks.

One in every three bananas sold in the UK is Fairtrade

Schools will get a visit from their local foodstore and enjoy some educational fun on the importance of supporting growers and producers in other countries. There will also be the opportunity for schools to try some delicious Fairtrade products, and of course there will be plenty of Fairtrade bananas to hand out to the children, too!

For further information on Fairtrade Fortnight, visit www.fairtrade.org.uk