This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight runs from March 1-14, as the organisation looks to build on the success experienced to date.
Over the past four years a Fairtrade fruitbowl has been created, comprising of bananas, oranges, apples, pineapples, mangoes, grapes and lemons. Fairtrade bananas were introduced to the UK in 2000, mangoes in 2001 and pineapples in 2002.
Last year, the Thandi initiative, supported by the Capespan Foundation in South Africa, led to the first Fairtrade apples, oranges, lemons and grapes arriving in the UK. Nelson Mandela heralded the initiative calling it visionary and inspirational.
Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “The South African grape farmers have had their first meetings to decide how to use the Fairtrade premium. They are planning to bring water to their village communities and to set up businesses to build health centres out of bricks. We are delighted that sales have proved that British shoppers are keen to buy Fairtrade grapes and support them in this work.”
Lamb is delighted at the growth of Fairtrade. “The past four years have been an exciting development for all of us in the Fairtrade movement. The Fairtrade fruitbowl is the way to give farmers in the developing world a fair deal. Look out for the Fairtrade mark on the fresh produce section of your local supermarket - and if it’s not there ask why.”
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