Tasty treats from pupils at the great Fairtrade Bake-Off

Finalists were invited to the Mayor’s Parlour at Cloonavin to present their ‘bakes’ to judges.

In a bid to raise awareness during ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’, the Fairtrade Group invited all primary six and year ten pupils in the borough to get messy in the kitchen and bake using Fairtrade ingredients.

The finalists produced a selection of mouth-watering cakes and buns and the baker judged to have made the best looking and tasting cake, using Fairtrade ingredients was declared the winner.

Mayor of Coleraine, councillor, George Duddy, one of the judges at the Fairtrade Bake-Off final said: “I was amazed at the range of Fairtrade products that was used in the baking, there were Fairtrade sugars, oranges, chocolate, cocoa, golden syrup and bananas.

“These young people have done a great job baking using Fairtrade products.

“I really enjoyed sampling their work.

“I’d like to extend my congratulations to the staff and pupils of each and every school who took part in the Fairtrade Bake-Off, especially our finalists, winners and to Heron Bros. for sponsoring the Bake-Off prize hampers.”

Fiona Watters of Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group explained: “Council wanted to raise awareness of Fairtrade products and encourage the use of these products among local school children and their families.

“A Fairtrade Bake-Off competition was very well received by the participating schools and pupils. Children in schools across the Borough took on the challenge by researching the Fairtrade campaign, recipes and ingredients and made the most delicious looking and tasting Fairtrade cakes and buns.

Everyone had fun getting creative in the kitchen and learning about Fairtrade.”

The winning junior baker was Alice Anderson, from Ballytober Primary School who produced Fairtrade chocolate biscuits and orange sauce.

Alice used an impressive range of Fairtrade ingredients including chocolate, sugar and a Fairtrade orange.

In the senior section, Abigail McAfee, from North Coast Integrated College took the title of senior Fairtrade Baker 2013 with her fantastically decorated and presented Fairtrade red velvet heart cake.

Buying Fairtrade products means that farmers and growers in countries such as Africa and South and Central America can send their children to school, buy medicines and dig wells for their local community.

The Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group encourage everyone to buy Fairtrade goods whenever possible.

When a shopper purchases products carrying the Fairtrade mark, it ensures that thousands of farmers and growers in 57 poor, developing countries are paid a fair price for their products.

Buying Fairtrade means helping third world workers build classrooms, employ nurses, educate their children and invest in a better life.

For further information on Fairtrade in the Coleraine Borough Council area please visit www.colerainebc.gov.uk/fairtrade