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Fairtrade Fortnight
The Fairtrade Fortnight,
from 10 to 23 March, is the biggest annual opportunity to
raise the awareness of the Fairtrade mark. The Fairtrade Foundation
brings together retailers, Fairtrade companies, development
agencies, women’s organisations, faith groups, local councils,
campaigners and celebrities to increase the profile of the
Fairtrade Mark.
The first Fairtrade label was
introduced in 1988 in Holland and only applied to coffee. This was
in direct response to the slump of the price of coffee globally,
which had declined for some years to far less than the cost of production,
causing hardship for coffee farmers in the developing world.
Six years later in 1994 the
first Fairtrade Mark products (chocolate, coffee and tea) appeared
in the UK. In 2001-02, £46 million was spent in the UK on Fairtrade
foods. To date the Fairtrade label has been launched in 17 other
countries in Europe and North America.
There are 4.5 million growers and families
in 36 countries operating under the Fairtrade umbrella. Producers
are guaranteed a minimum price regardless of how low the world
market price falls. They also receive a ‘premium’ to invest
in social, economic and environmental development. Fairtrade
promotes the empowerment of growers, and the development of
greater knowledge of commodity markets.
Government Office for
London marked Fairtrade Fortnight with a display and samples
of Fairtrade products such as chocolate, museli bars, coffee
and tea. It was well received by GOL staff, as they gained
not only free chocolate, but a clearer understanding of the
issues surrounding equitable trade for producers in the developing
world.
Further Information
For more information on Fairtrade
please contact the Fairtrade Foundation, Room 204, 16 Baldwin’s
Gardens, London EC1N 7RJ. Telephone: 0207 405 5942. Web: www.fairtrade.org.uk
