As a Fairtrade city, Oxford will celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from Monday 26 February to Sunday 11 March.
There are over 1.65 million farmers and workers spread across more than 74 countries participating in Fairtrade. Oxford City Council will be supporting the celebrations with the aim of encouraging people here in Oxford to choose Fairtrade products and support the Oxford Fairtrade Coalition.
Oxford has been a certified Fairtrade city since 2004.
Councillor Bob Price, Board Member for Corporate Strategy and Economic Development, said: “The Council strongly encourages people in Oxford to buy Fairtrade goods. It is an excellent way of supporting the economies of many developing countries through small businesses and co-operatives which are locally owned and managed and not in the hands of multinational companies. This means that the income generated stays within the country and is not sucked out in profits for international shareholders.”
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers. The Fairtrade logo you see on some food packaging means that the Fairtrade ingredients in the product have been produced by small scale farmer organisations or plantations that meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards.
Sabita Banerji, Chair of The Oxford Fairtrade Coalition said "Oxford citizens should be very proud of our status as a Fairtrade city and of helping to make sure that the people who grow our food are treated fairly and decently. With Fairtrade we have the power to change the world every day and Fairtrade Fortnight is a great opportunity for the people of Oxford to get involved and spread the word. Visit Oxford's Fairtrade Coalition's website and Facebook page to hear about all the exciting events and activities all over Oxford."
Families, cafes, schools, restaurants and business can get involved by choosing to buy Fairtrade. There are over 4,500 Fairtrade products from coffee and tea to flowers, chocolate, bananas, beauty products and much more. So when you shop, look for the Fairtrade mark logo.
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