Note to Editors - BBC Report Coffee Crisis In Nicaragua

Harriet Lamb, Director of Fairtrade Foundation available for interview – details below

The report on the BBC TV 10 O’Clock News tonight was highlighting the plight of coffee workers dependent on the vagaries of the conventional world coffee market. It also showed the positive impact that sales to the UK Fairtrade market can make to farmers.

The crisis demands a concerted effort on the part of the many stakeholders involved in the coffee industry, and the Fairtrade Foundation reiterates below extracts of the recommendations from the Fairtrade Foundation’s report Spilling the Beans, revised last year.

Fairtrade is a proven viable commercial model in which producers, roasters, retailers, and consumers can participate. Arguments that Fairtrade can never be more than a niche market have been disproved with Fairtrade roast and ground coffee sales representing 14% of the UK market by value in 2001. 53 companies are licensed to market products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK. One of these, Cafédirect is now the 6^th largest coffee brand in UK and sources from Nicaragua, as does the Percol brand.

• In the context of an unfair global trade system, UK consumers are making a positive difference to the lives of tens of thousands of farmers in developing countries by choosing to buy Fairtrade coffee for the home, in the workplace and in coffee shops. This consumer support is also sending a strong message to government and the coffee industry that coffee farmers should receive a sustainable price for their commodity.
• Roasters and retailers to commit to include coffees with the FAIRTRADE Mark in their range and actively promote them to consumers.
• Roasters and retailers to make a long-term commitment to increase their Fairtrade activities and support the development of Fairtrade producers and products.
• Consumer governments to increase funding of Fairtrade in their global development programmes. Supporting sustainable agricultural development should take priority over short–term solutions.
• Consumer governments to promote Fairtrade to consumers and take a lead by adopting Fairtrade sourcing policies in government departments. Companies and institutions to follow this lead.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please email eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk or abi.murray@fairtrade.org.uk or phone on 020 7405 5942 or mobile 07770 957 451.