Residents urged to back Fairtrade

Its aim is to help bring about positive change for millions of farmers and workers in developing countries throughout the world by making an effort to place more Fairtrade items in their shopping baskets.

This year Fairtrade supporters are on a mission to ask shoppers and businesses to choose products that change lives.

Campaigners across the district will join forces with the rest of the world to raise awareness and make an increased effort to choose Fairtrade products this year.

Fairtrade campaigners want to see more individuals and businesses buying and selling Fairtrade products within the district.

Banbridge District has historically been ardent supporters of Fairtrade having received Fairtrade status in 2012 and continuingly supporting ever since. The more people within Banbridge district that choose Fairtrade, the more farmers and workers will be empowered to improve their lives through the better terms of trade it offers.

Seventy per cent of the world’s food is produced by 500 million smallholder farmers yet many of them remain trapped in continuing poverty while shoppers enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Fairtrade ensures that farmers across the developing world receive a fairer price for their work, as well as an additional Fairtrade premium, used by farmers and workers to invest in communities.

Adam Gardner, Fairtrade Foundation’s Communities Campaigns Manager says: “The UK has one of the most powerful networks of Fairtrade campaigners in the world, raising awareness about Fairtrade values in their communities and driving positive change for smallholder farmers, and their families, in developing countries.

“It is thanks to the support of groups like Banbridge District that currently more than 1.4 million farmers and workers around the world benefit from the Fairtrade system.”