The Executive Director of Fairtrade Foundation spoke to us about her time at the organisation so far and what the plan is for the next fifteen years.
How do you feel about the 15th anniversary of the FAIRTRADE Mark? The Fairtrade movement is a typical teenager. It’s growing quickly, it’s full of energy and passion for the cause and full of anger at the injustice that still exists across the world. I feel proud of our achievements and yet dismayed that across the world, many people who supply our tea, coffee, sugar and cotton are still struggling to cover their costs and can’t plan for tomorrow.
What is your favourite Fairtrade product of the last 15 years?Can I have two? The first would have to be bananas from the Windward Islands. When the farmers came together in 2000 and began to engage with Fairtrade their status and influence was boosted and farmers began to take over managing the supply chain. My second favourite product is Palestinian olive oil which was launched this year. It is so moving to hear of the problems farmers face even just to tend their crops and so fantastic to learn how Fairtrade can play a part in underpinning peace by offering an economic outlet.
Have you met any of the first producers to be certified from Belize, India or Costa Rica? What ways has the premium been used to improve communities?’I have been lucky enough to meet many producers over the years and they are always inspiring. I have also seen the various ways in which the Fairtrade premium has made a difference. The beauty of the premium is that local communities decide how to spend it and they are the experts in knowing what they need locally.
What has the fantastic growth of Fairtrade products meant for producers across the world?
As Renwick Rose from the Windward Islands Farmers Association said: ‘For years farmers were considered as the proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water, producing to the dictates and for the benefits of others. They were thought to be incapable of managing their own business. The transition to farmer control has demonstrated beyond the shadow of doubt that farmers can do it for themselves.'
How has your work/role changed in the past 15 years?When I arrived here I had the unusual job title of ‘banana co-ordinator’ and tried to find solutions to the trade problems banana farmers faced. Although my job has changed I feel that many of the challenges remain. Luckily I am as committed as ever to bringing about change!
I also appreciate the achievements. My very first job at the Fairtrade Foundation was to announce Garstang as the first Fairtrade Town. Now there are more than 450 Fairtrade Towns, not to mention 3,000 plus Fairtrade Schools and 5,000 faith groups.
What message would you give to Fairtrade campaigners across the UK as they celebrate the anniversary?I would encourage them to crack open a bottle of Fairtrade bubbly and pat themselves on the back! Everyone involved in the Fairtrade movement over the past 15 years from campaigners to NGOs to retailers can be proud of their achievements. But there is still a mountain to climb. Millions of farmers across the world struggle to feed their families and yet they supply us with everyday items which we enjoy. Campaigners must carry on organising until Fairtrade is operating in every developing country and in every possible market.
What do the next 15 years hold for the Fairtrade Foundation? In the next five, 10 and 15 years our ambition is to tip the balance of power of trade. This means opening the doors of trade for millions of farmers who can’t currently sell their goods as Fairtrade, for example producers of silk, pulses and vegetables.