Fair Trade Fortnight Helps Farmers and Their Families

Helen Mead summarizes what Fair Trade means to farmers and their families in the developing world where…

many workers face harsh living conditions, low pay and exploitation. They do not have access to even basic medical care or an education for themselves or their children.

The global Fair Trade movement helps to remedy this by providing a living income for some of the world’s poorest farmers and workers.

Fairtrade Fortnight, in the Bradford district puts this vital work in the spotlight from now until Sunday March 10.  This year also marks 25 years of Fairtrade in the UK.

Bradford district has been a Fairtrade Zone since 2006, fulfilling a range of criteria to gain this status. This includes having a variety of Fairtrade products in the area’s shops and cafes, demonstrating the use of Fairtrade products in local workplaces and establishing a local Fairtrade steering group.

Stop in if you are in the area.  Events this year include:

A Fairtrade stall in Baildon Co-op promoting Fairtrade in four local schools, a Fairtrade breakfast at Bradford Cathedral, a Fairtrade afternoon tea and chocolate tasting at St. John’s Church.