A former director of Lothian Borders and Angus Co-op received an MBE for services to the community. Jean Mundell recently retired from the society's board after serving for over 28 years. Ms Mundell, who lives in Dumfries, is Chair and a founding member of Food Train, a local charity set up to provide a grocery delivery service to the elderly and vulnerable in Dumfries and Galloway. She also serves on the Locharbriggs Community Council and is a Director of the Nithsdale Council of Voluntary ...

FAIRTRADE Fornight was launched with news that sales have doubled to £ 140m and the number of products have leaped from 150 in 2003 to 834. Figures published at the beginning of Fairtade Fortnight (1st-13th March) show sales of products with the Fairtrade mark topped £ 140m in 2004, an increase of 51 percent on the 2003 figure of £ 92m. More is being spent on the core products such as coffee, tea, bananas and chocolate, while the newer products which include flowers, wines, oils and ...