Fairtrade Fornight: General Release

CHECK OUT FAIRTRADE, the theme for Fairtrade Fortnight (1-13 March 2005), is a call to consumers across the UK to find out all about the FAIRTRADE Mark - the only independent guarantee of a fair deal for farmers in developing countries. It’s also encouraging them to take goods with the FAIRTRADE Mark to the checkout of their local shop or supermarket.

“It’s so quick and easy for shoppers to choose products with the FAIRTRADE Mark, and yet the difference this makes to producers can be dramatic”, says Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation. “The Fairtrade system demands huge efforts from farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America as they organise into democratically run groups. This ensures that the gradual improvements which Fairtrade makes possible are sustainable, giving communities a real chance to build a brighter future – and ‘Make Poverty History’.”

The guarantees behind the FAIRTRADE Mark are:

• Farmers receive a fair and stable price for their products
• Farmers and plantation workers have the opportunity to improve their lives
• Greater respect for the environment
• Small-scale farmers gain a stronger position in world markets
• A closer link between consumers and producers

Tadesse Meskela, General Manager of Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Co-operative Union in Ethiopia, will be visiting the UK for Fairtrade Fortnight. Oromia’s mission is to support small producers in becoming economically self-sufficient and ensuring their families have enough to eat in a country prone to famine. As Tadesse explains, “With Fairtrade coffee, farmers in Ethiopia are getting their deserved reward. Fairtrade is not just about selling and buying. It is creating a global family.” With Africa holding the political spotlight in 2005, Tadesse will be touring the UK during Fairtrade Fortnight to highlight the importance of Fairtrade in tackling poverty. Several other Fairtrade producers will also be touring the UK, sharing their experiences and checking out their products on our shop shelves. They include Fairtrade banana grower Regina Joseph from WINFA (Windward Islands Farmers Association).

Fairtrade sales grow by around 40% year on year, and sales for 2004 are were over £130million. More than 700 products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark are now available across the retail and catering sectors.

Britain has overtaken Switzerland to become the biggest Fairtrade market in the world, with coffee, bananas, tea and chocolate still the most popular choices. Fairtrade wine and beer, roses and footballs were introduced last year, joining fruit juice, other fresh fruit, cocoa, sugar, snacks, honey and other products. All major UK supermarket chains now sell Fairtrade products.

A 2004 MORI poll showed that the number of people who recognised the FAIRTRADE Mark had doubled to 39% since 2002. For those who buy Fairtrade products, 86% said the independent guarantee of the FAIRTRADE Mark is important to them.

Fairtrade Fortnight is promoted by networks around the country including development agencies CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, SCIAF, Tearfund, Traidcraft Exchange and the World Development Movement, as well as a wide range of other organisations: Shared Interest, Banana Link, People & Planet, the Mothers’ Union, The National Federation of Women’s Institutes, the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, churches and the UNISON and PCS trade unions. Major pushes are expected in almost 100 Fairtrade Towns and Cities where committees have pledged to roll out an ongoing programme of activities to raise awareness about Fairtrade, and on 7th March, Manchester and Salford are set to become the joint 100th cities to declare Fairtrade Town status.

Most major retailers are planning special promotional activities during Fairtrade Fortnight to highlight Fairtrade products on their shelves and at the checkout. Elsewhere on the high street, café chains and restaurants will also be drawing attention to the Fairtrade tea, coffee, juices and snacks now appearing on their menus.

This year an estimated 7,500 events will take place all over the country during Fairtrade Fortnight – everything from Fairtrade parades, concerts and debates to tea dances, fiestas and family days. Celebrity wine expert, Oz Clarke, will CHECK OUT FAIRTRADE by travelling to Rwanda to see for himself how Fairtrade has helped coffee farmers and to taste their coffee.

Notes to Editors
1. The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 5 million people, including farmers, workers and their families across 49 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body that awards the FAIRTRADE Mark to products which meet international Fairtrade standards. Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual two weeks of campaigning and awareness building about Fairtrade.

2. The five goals to achieve Fairtrade Town status are: local council passes a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and agrees to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in its offices and canteens; a range of Fairtrade products are readily available in the area’s shops; Fairtrade products are served in local cafés/catering establishments; Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc); a local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status. In January 2005, 81 towns and cities had reached these five goals. There are currently a further 220 towns actively running Fairtrade Towns campaigns.

3. AMT Coffee launched its switch to 100 percent Fairtrade coffee in its 46 coffee kiosks around the UK in November 2004, whilst Marks & Spencer switched to 100 percent Fairtrade coffee in its 198 in-store Café Revives in September 2004. Fairtrade coffee is also available in Costa Coffee, Pret A Manger and Starbucks. Late last year, Oxfam and coffee roaster Matthew Algie announced plans to launch its chain of Progreso Fairtrade coffee shops in partnership with coffee grower co-operatives. Oxfam intends to open 20 coffee bars within three years, all serving Fairtrade products.

4. The Fairtrade Foundation is part of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign which brings together a wide cross-section of over 200 organisations charities, campaigns, trade unions, faith groups and celebrities - set up to press the government for global change on trade, aid and debt. The members are united by a common belief that this year offers an unprecedented opportunity for the UK to press for that global change. In July, the UK will host the G8 summit of richest nations in Gleneagles, and from July to December it will take over the revolving presidency of the EU.

For further information please contact the Fairtrade Foundation: 020 7440 7695 or switchboard 020 7405 5942, mobile 0790 4455666 / 07734 566079, Email: media.one@fairtrade.org.uk or media@fairtrade.org.uk
www.fairtrade.org.uk