Fairtrade Fortnight: what is it and how to get involved
Fundraising during Fairtrade Fortnight raises money and awareness for farmers and producers in developing countries. Here's how to get involved.
It's Fairtrade Fortnight.
We hear about Fairtrade products quite a lot. They’re on the shelves at the supermarket and we see them advertised on TV.
But when it comes to Fairtrade Fortnight, not everyone is sure what it entails.
The nationwide initiative led by the Fairtrade Foundation hopes to make shoppers more aware of where the products they buy really come from.
The organisation's work is all about getting a fair deal for food producers in the developing world, and more than 7.5 million people are said to benefit.
But how does a product get to Fairtrade status?
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is all about improving working conditions, ensuring better prices, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for workers and farmers who grow our food in developing countries.
Companies are required to pay sustainable prices, which are never lower than the market price to keep standards high.
As an organisation, the Fairtrade Foundation fights against conventional trade which usually see the poorest and weakest producers discriminated against.
By buying Fairtrade products, it can help producers take more control of their own products.
Products with the Fairtrade mark have been produced by small-scale farmer organisations or plantations that meet the Fairtrade standard.
How we can get involved during Fairtrade Fortnight
Every year we have the chance to take part in fundraising events during Fairtrade Fortnight, this year from 27 February to 12 March.
From campaigners and businesses to school and places of worship, everyone can get involved to support the farmers and workers who grow our food in developing countries.
There’s lots of ways to get involved, from buying Fairtrade tea or bananas to holding a Fairtrade breakfast/lunch.
As they say every little helps.
You can find out about the campaign at the Fairtrade Fortnight website.
What can you buy?
Contrary to what you might think, buying Fairtrade doesn’t need to break the bank. You can buy products ranging from bananas to sugar, and most major retailers sell them.
While they may be a little more expensive, at least you have the knowledge you are helping to make a difference to other people's lives.
Do you buy Fairtrade? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below.
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