Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight will soon be upon us, so here is a brief introduction to the concept of Fairtrade for those who are unsure what it's all about.

How we live and how we choose to shop and do business has an affect on how producers in so-called 'developing countries' are able to live and whether they are able to make basic choices to improve their own future and their children's future.

Fairtrade is a guarantee of a fair price and decent working conditions for those people in less economically developed countries who produce food and other products people like us in the wealthy West to buy.

Although we may not realise it, many of the everyday things, such as cotton, rice, tea, coffee and chocolate, are produced by people who are not being paid enough to live on for their long hours of work and who can be working in dangerous and unhealthy conditions.

If you aren't convinced that Fairtrade is necessary read this or some of the producer stories here.

Fairtrade initiatives aim to stop this. Through selective buying, you can ensure that the producers at the bottom of the supply chain, such as poor farmers, get a fairer share of the money you spend on their goods.

All the major supermarkets stock Fairtrade products these days, as do many small shops. Some cafes and restaurants use Fairtrade produce, too. This will give you an idea of the wide range of Fairtrade products available in the shops.

There will soon be lots of offers on Fairtrade products for Fairtrade Fortnight.

Look out for this logo when you next go shopping.

You can find out more about what the logo means here

Fairtrade fights poverty through trade.