Story: Liz Searle | Photos: Ruth Walton
In Fairtrade Fortnight, on Saturday 9th March, local volunteers ran a stall offering residents a wealth of information on Fairtrade products and the movement.
The ethos seems impossible to disagree with: suppliers such as coffee farmers and pickers in developing countries are paid a fair rate for their work and goods. The Fairtrade logo identifies products where growers are paid a decent price and with fair working conditions.
Ruth, Dylan, Anne and other willing helpers spent a cold but enjoyable morning outside the Saturday veg shop on Firshill Road, chatting to passers by about Fairtrade and sharing the delicious cakes made using Fairtrade sugar and cocoa.
“It's been absolutely lovely,” smiled Anne. “We met some people who were new to the idea and also lots who already knew about Fairtrade.” People across all the local communities were very interested, friendly and supportive. “It's been a great opportunity to chat to people we wouldn't normally meet,” added Dylan.
I joined the group outside Rainbow's End, where they gave away stickers, hot drinks and lots of cake – honey buns, gluten-free ginger cake and bizarre but beautiful chocolate beetroot cake! Ruth described how they'd visited fifteen local shops in the last two weeks, discussing Fairtrade with the owners.
“Lots of shops do stock Fairtrade items, like chocolate and cocoa,” Ruth explained.
See if you can spot the Fairtrade logo next time you're in your corner shop. You might even ask if the owner would think about bringing in more Fairtrade products. Coffee and tea are no more expensive than other kinds but you get the added satisfaction of knowing you're making conditions better for workers everywhere.