Scotmid and Chelmsford Star co-operatives are marking this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight with a series of events designed to raise awareness about the importance of fair terms of trade.
Scotmid is sponsoring a number of activities, including a Fairtrade banana bonanza in South Queensferry and a Fairtrade football tournament in Bonnyrigg. Staff members will give talks to local schools and encourage customers to switch to a Fairtrade version of food cupboard essentials like tea, coffee and fruits. In collaboration with local schools, Scotmid will also run a Fairtrade drawing competition.
For 10 years, Scotmid has been the official partner of Edinburgh City Fairtrade Group. This year it will be sponsoring a series of activities, including the Lord Provost Fairtrade Awards and the World Fairtrade Carnival and Concert in Edinburgh.
The Provost Fairtrade Awards recognise the difference that residents, businesses and schools make in promoting fair trade across the Scottish capital.
Membership and community manager at Scotmid, Patricia Edington, said: “This Fairtrade Fortnight, we want to inspire our customers and local communities to choose Fairtrade to help transform the lives of farmers and producers in the developing world.
“Scotland is now a Fairtrade nation so there’s never been a better time for Scottish co-operatives and other retailers to get involved in Fairtrade Fortnight! Having a Fairtrade option of products for your customers and highlighting the importance of supporting Fairtrade in-store are simple ways we can help make a difference.”
Chelmsford Star will also celebrate the Fortnight with a campaign to encourage customers to switch to Fairtrade products.
As part of the campaign, Chelmsford Star’s department store in Braintree will be visited by Daniela Cedron, a member of La Riojana wine co-operative in Argentina. 2014 marks the 10 year anniversary of Co-operative own-brand Fairtrade wine, which includes bottles from Argentina, Chile and South Africa. Daniela, who comes from a family that has been growing grapes for La Riojana Co-operative since 1940, has witnessed the birth of Fairtrade and the impact that it has had on the winery and the local communities. She will share her experience at the members’ coffee club on 27 February.
Chelmsford Star will also be running an evening event in its quadrant department store on 26 February where Dame Pauline Green, president of the ICA, will deliver a presentation on Fairtrade and co-operatives.
On the evening, the winner of a Fairtrade quilt produced locally by the Keene Quilters will be decided and the proceeds given to SaferPlaces Domestic Abuse Victim Support in Chelmsford. Both the £5 entrance fee and proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Fairtraders Co-operative to assist an underprivileged Fairtrade project overseas.
FIND OUT MORE: View the full Fairtrade collection
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