 |
| Company story |
Justine Cather, founder of Burnt Sugar, makers of delicious Fairtrade sweets, tells us how the company will be celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight.
What are you up to during Fairtrade Fortnight?
I’ll be involved in a few different ways. As a company we’ll be at the London launch on 22 February hosting a fun quiz about Fairtrade sugar. Lots of fudge and sweets to be won! We’ll also be providing prizes for a quiz and samples at Waitrose Head Office to educate their staff – we sell our sweets in their stores. Burnt Sugar will be part of the Fairtrade trail at Oxford University Botanic Gardens and providing free fudge to our local Oxfam shop (the very first one – Broad Street, Oxford). I’ll be visiting my son’s primary school to do some cooking with Fairtrade ingredients. Last year the children were really interested. They understand the concept of fairness from a young age. Lots of mums said to me afterwards that they now buy Fairtrade because their kids insist on it!
Why do you feel it’s important to get involved?
There is still confusion about Fairtrade and what it means and I want to help people understand the difference they can make by buying Fairtrade. I love talking to children about it as they are very keen supporters as soon as they understand that not all children in the world have the privileges they do.
What about healthy eating?
Burnt Sugar promotes a ‘sweetie sharing policy’ because we all know too much sugar isn’t good for us, but indulging in moderation is fine.
Where does the Fairtrade sugar you use come from?
It’s from Kasinthula Cane Growers in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Southern Africa. I visited the farmers from WEKO (West Kenya Outgrowers Company), before the recent political unrest happened. It was fascinating to see how the sugar was grown and harvested and milled – with very little modern machinery.
How has Kasinthula benefited?
The social premium paid by Burnt Sugar to KCG last year for their sugar was the equivalent amount to pay for a bore hole to be dug. Bore holes provide the villagers with fresh, clean water, which reduces water borne diseases. They also protect the villagers (mostly women as it is their job to collect water) from being attacked by crocodiles when they collected water from the river.
© Spring 2009 Fair Comment