Fairtrade

• Fairtrade Introduction
• Fairtrade Zones

Fairtrade Introduction

Fairtrade is a growing movement that gives farmers in developing countries a better price for their products. More than 5 million farmers, workers and their families across 49 developing countries benefit from the Fairtrade system.

Many Fairtrade products are available in shops, from Fairtrade bananas to Fairtrade footballs. Buying Fairtrade allows consumers concerned with whether producers are getting a fair price for their products to choose products that meet international Fairtrade standards. Part of the price of a product carrying the Fairtrade logo is set aside for farmers and farm workers to spend on social and environmental projects, and the stable price offered for their products allows them to plan for their future.

The Fairtrade mark appears on products that guarantee a better deal for disadvantaged producers.

Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight is being held this year between 27 February and 11 March 2012. The theme is "Take a Step". During Fairtrade Fortnight, Mr Masauko Khembo, Chief Executive, Kasinthula Cane Growers (sugar cane) from Malawi will be visiting Aberdeenshire and sharing his experiences of Fairtrade.

During Fairtrade Fortnight in 2011. Peterhead Academy hosted an event on 10 March 2011, where Ken Mkangala, a macadamia nut producer from Malawi and Nicholas Evans from the Scottish Fair Trade Forum visited to talk about Fairtrade and answer questions. Ken and Nick are pictured left with Joanne Cameron and Laura Gauld from Peterhead Academy.

Fairtrade Zones

The Fairtrade Foundation runs a programme allowing communities to achieve Fairtrade Town, City or Zone status. In Aberdeenshire, Ellon, Huntly and Inverurie have achieved Fairtrade Town status, and Mid Formartine has achieved Fairtrade zone status.

Aberdeenshire Council's Sustainability Sub Committee agreed on 04 February 2009 that Aberdeenshire Council would:

1. Support the existing Fairtrade initiatives within the Council and Aberdeenshire,
2. Support the steps to encourage more use of Fairtrade products within the Council and communities within Aberdeenshire,
3. Agree that the Council should encourage the area to work towards achieving Fairtrade Zone status.

If your town or area is interesting in becoming a Fairtrade town or zone please contact us and we will help to explain and work you through the process.

Did you know... the Scottish Parliament serves fairtrade tea and coffee.

What you can do...

• Try out some of the range of Fairtrade products at home. The range of products is growing all the time, and includes fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, rice, honey and fruit juice;
• If you don't see Fairtrade goods in your local shop or cafe why not ask if they would consider selling Fairtrade in future. If enough people ask then shops and cafes will want to please their customers;
• Convert your workplace or school to Fairtrade.

Many schools are turning to Fairtrade. For example, Ellon Academy, Dunecht School and Gordon Primary School, Huntly are Fairtrade Schools.