What is Fairtrade?

International trade may seem a remote issue, but when commodity prices fall dramatically it has a catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of small scale producers, forcing many into crippling debt and countless others to lose their land and their homes.

Too many farmers in the developing world have to contend with fluctuating prices that may not even cover what it costs to produce their crop.

Development agencies recognised the important role that consumers could play to improve the situation for producers. By buying direct from farmers at better prices, helping to strengthen their organisations and marketing their produce directly through their own one world shops and catalogues, the charities offered consumers the opportunity to buy products which were bought on the basis of a fair trade.

Fairtrade Labelling was created in the Netherlands in the late 1980s. Max Havelaar launched the first Fairtrade consumer guarantee label in 1986 on coffee sourced from Mexico.

Today, there are now 19 organisations including the Fairtrade Foundation, that run the international standard setting and monitoring body Fairtrade Labelling Organisatiosn Internetional (FLO).

Producers registered with FLO receive a minimum price that covers the cost of production and an extra premium that is invested in the local community.

Sales across the 18 countries that license the FAIRTRADE Mark are growing at around 20% every year. In the majority of these countries, Fairtrade products are now mainstream products available in major supermarkets and independent shops and are beginning to gain market shares.

Pendle and Fairtrade

Pendle has been awarded the status of Fairtrade Borough.  This means that the following criteria have been met:

• The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens.
• A range of Fairtrade products must be readily available in the area’s shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments (targets are set in relation to population).
• Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc).
• The council must attract popular support for the campaign.
• A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Town or Area status.

You can help the Fairtrade movement by selecting products with the FAIRTRADE Mark printed on them. Choose Fairtrade in the shops. Ask for Fairtrade in cafes and restaurants. Switch to Fairtrade at work.

Local traders who support Fair Trade include: Morrisons, Asda, Co-op, Kwiksave, Christine's Health Shop (Barnoldswick), The Fruit Bowl (Barnoldswick), Good Health (Colne), Nelson Nutrition, Sankey's Office Supplies (Nelson), Supafruit (Nelson), Village Fayre (Barrowford), Coffee Culture (Barnoldswick), Fencegate Inn (Fence), Granny's Kitchen (Colne), Jim's Cafe (Colne), New Road Community Centre (Earby), Open Door (Colne), Pendle Heritage Centre (Barrowford), St. Johns Southworth, Sun Inn (Trawden), David Grant Hair Design (Barnoldswick) and Duncan James Barber and Hairstylist (Barnoldswick).

More Information

You can find out more about Fairtrade at http://www.fairtrade.org.uk

For local Fairtrade information visit http://www.pendle.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=347&documentID=337