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From pudding to presents - and not forgetting parties - Fairtrade has all the ingredients for a very Merry Christmas.

It’s easier than ever this year to create the perfect Christmas for you, your family and for farming families around the world. With more than 3,000 Fairtrade certified products now available on the high street, online, from local stores and cafes and restaurants, the simple choices you make when planning for the festive season have the potential to change lives.

From delicious festive snacks and treats, to seasonal tipples, special stocking fillers and Fairtrade cotton clothing and homewear gifts – you can choose Fairtrade for every element of your Christmas.

The Pudding:
The central element of Christmas planning is the pudding, so why not switch to Fairtrade ingredients? Figgy pudding ingredients carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark include: fresh fruits - lemons, oranges and apples, dried fruits like raisins, sultanas and apricots, not forgeting sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and of course, the magic ingredient - Fairtrade rum from the Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Asda and independents! Just add suet, breadcrumbs, almonds and a pinch of salt and you’re all set.

Cooking with Fairtrade means you can be reassured that your Christmas dinner is helping some of the poorest communities in the world, like the Mountain Fruits farmers in the Karakoram Mountains in Northern Pakistan, who produce Tropical Wholefood’s dried apricots. Fairtrade premiums have enabled farmers to pay for school fees, build a new school and a community centre, as well as improving the quality of their production. Sher Ghazi, Chief Executive of Mountain Fruits, says: “Getting a Fairtrade deal for apricot farmers in these remote valleys is a lifeline."

And if all those ingredients seem like too much hard work, the easy options are Traidcraft Christmas Pudding, their Fairtrade Fully Iced Christmas Cake or the Co-op Fairtrade Yule Log!

The Party:
Perk up your Christmas party with succulent Suma Fairtrade organic dates, tasty Equal Exchange Fairtrade Amazon Flame brazil nuts, Montecristo cashews and Fairtrade mulled wine from Old Hamlet Wine & Spice Co. Decorate the house with festive flowers using Tesco’s Fairtrade Christmas Roses, and what party is complete without After Dinner Mints from Divine Chocolate?

End the evening with one of the range of Fairtrade Christmas coffees or teas, available from Marks & Spencer, Taylors of Harrogate or the Eve Coffee Company, or cause a stir with exclusive Qi Organic Fairtrade White Christmas Tea.

Finally, for the perfect party outfit People Tree’s Fairtrade and organic cotton wrap dress in rich seasonal purple is a stunning option.

Fairtrade parties, celebrations and events will take place across the UK this winter, as the network of Fairtrade Towns and Cities raise the profile of how Fairtrade can help people in the developing world at Christmas time. The flagship event will be the Commonwealth Carol Service at St Martin-in-the Fields in London on 12th December at 6.30pm, which this year will be a celebration of Fairtrade, with readings by Fairtrade celebrity ambassadors at the event.

The Presents:
Once you’ve got the food and the party planning sorted, there’s just that small matter of presents for all your family and friends.

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of The Fairtrade Foundation, said: “What could be better than receiving a present that you will enjoy and has also brought benefits to the people who produced it? The choice of gorgeous gifts is bigger than ever this year, so give something from our Fairtrade Christmas Wish list and bring happiness to everyone involved.”

For him:

• Dress him up in a Low Tech tee in organic and Fairtrade cotton from People Tree or a Fairtrade cotton tee from Monsoon

• Indulge him with Chocaid Irish Cream Flavoured Truffles in Fairtrade White Chocolate or an Oxfam Rum Truffles Gift Box

• Encourage him to get fit with a Fairtrade Football

• And if in doubt – there’s always socks – Fairtrade cotton ones, of course from Marks & Spencer.

For her:

• Spoil her with Chocolala hand-crafted Fairtrade chocolates or Divine Chocolate’s new hand-made Belgian chocs in a stunning black and gold box.

• The way to her heart is through her wardrobe – her Fairtrade wardrobe that is! She’ll love a pair of Slouchy Boyfriend jeans from Ascension, dazzle her with People Tree’s Batwing Print Top or stick to the basics with cuddly undies from Gossypium or Debenhams.

• Some home pampering is in order with luxurious Fairtrade cotton towels and crisp Fairtrade cotton sheets from Christy, Marks & Spencer or Oxton Cotton.

Stocking filler surprises:

• Add some sparkle with Divine Gold Coins

• Please the kids with brand new Dubble milk chocolate Christmas puds

• Add a practical touch with Bocoton Fairtrade cotton cosmetic pads.

For young ones:

• Choose from the cute Fairtrade cotton options for kids – ‘Melting Hearts’ polar bear babygrow from Hug, Spotty baby hat from Piccalilly, ‘Planet Rocks’ girl’s tee from Next and longsleeve boy’s tee from People Tree

• Indulge them with some festive snacking with Traidcraft Fairtrade Half-Coated Milk Chocolate Christmas Tree Biscuits.

And last but not least – don’t forget to count your way down to Christmas with the Divine Heavenly Milk Chocolate Advent Calender or the Sweet Temptations’ Ethical Advent calendar – we can’t wait!

Notes to Editor
For more information please contact Eileen Maybin or Martine Julseth at the Fairtrade Foundation at eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk or martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk; or call 020 7440 7695