Fairtrade

• Fairtrade Introduction
• Fairtrade Towns
• Ellon Fairtrade Town Steering Group

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 began this year on the 22nd of February 2010. The theme was 'The Big Swap'.

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s Director Betsy Reed, Jamil Hijazin from the Fairtrade Development Centre (FTDC) in Bethlehem and Mahmoud al Qadi who is an olive oil farmer in the village of Beni Zeid in Palestine, visited Woodhill House on Tuesday 2nd March as part of Fairtrade Fortnight..

They were welcomed by Deputy Provost Marcus Humphrey and gave really enlightening presentations.

Betsy gave an overview about the importance of fair trade and how Aberdeenshire can help make Scotland a Fair Trade Nation.

Jamil and Mahmoud explained how in a short period of time a group of farmers in Palestine managed to change their farming practices to enable them to get Fairtrade certification and how important Fairtrade is to producers and how by making a decision to purchase Fairtrade products in our local shops can improve so many lives in other countries.

Fairtrade Zones

The Fairtrade Foundation runs a programme allowing communities to achieve Fairtrade Town, City or Zone status. In Aberdeenshire, Ellon 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.

Below is information on how one town in Aberdeenshire gained their Fairtrade status.

Ellon Fairtrade Town Steering Group

In November 2005 representatives of the local community, including local schools, churches, the Ellon Rotary Club, Ellon Business Traders Association, Traidcraft and the Council met to discuss the possibility of Ellon becoming a Fairtrade Town. Those present decided that the Ellon Fairtrade Towns Steering Group should be formed.

The Ellon Fairtrade Town Steering Group promoted the concept of Fairtrade within Ellon and aim to increase the availability of Fairtrade in local shops, businesses, schools and churches. Special events were held to promote Fairtrade and regular meetings take place at Ellon's Kirk Centre to discuss progress toward Fairtrade Town status.

A range of Fairtrade products can be purchased at the Costcutter and Somerfield supermarkets in Ellon. Fairtrade products are also sold at the Kirk Centre Cafe. Ellon Baptist Church, the Church of Scotland, the Episcopal Church, and the Catholic Church all run Fairtrade stalls after their weekly services, and Ellon Academy is already a Fairtrade School.

The Group have also carried out a survey of local business to discover the extent to which fairtrade products such as tea and coffee are used by local employers. The Ellon Fairtrade Town Steering Group is happy to provide information to help businesses and other employers source Fairtrade products. Please contact the group for information or advice, or simply to let them know if your business or school are using Fairtrade.

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 Acadamy is a Fairtrade School.