Plymouth: Fairtrade city

Plymouth City Council has joined the Plymouth and District Forum for International Development, and members of the Fairtrade City Steering Group, in welcoming 'Fairtrade city' status for the city.

The recently awarded status was celebrated with the presentation of the first 'Fairtrade city' window sticker to Les Jardins de Bagatelle cafe in Old Town Street by Councillor Tudor Evans, the Leader of Plymouth City Council, and city MP, Linda Gilroy on Saturday 26 June 2004.

Over the weeks these stickers will appear all over the city indicating where customers can purchase from a choice of at least two Fair Trade items.

Plymouth becomes the first city in the far South West to achieve this accolade; joining cities such as Lancaster, York, Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton and Portsmouth in promoting and supporting fair trade in local shops, cafes and businesses.

Plymouth’s bid for Fairtrade city status was launched at a Fair Trade breakfast event in March 2004 attended by Gareth Jones, MP, the Under Secretary of State for International Development, local MP Linda Gilroy and visitors from the 'Kuapa Kokoo' cocoa co-operative in Ghana.

Gaining Fairtrade city status is not an easy task. The Fairtrade Foundation sets strict targets that must be met. These include support, by way of a formal resolution, from the City Council (obtained in January 2004) and proof that fair trade products are available in a number of shops, cafés and other establishments.

A spokesperson for the city’s Fair Trade City Steering Group said:

"We wholeheartedly support the Fairtrade Foundation’s definition of ‘fair trade’. It does what it says on the label - guarantees a better deal to producers in the developing world. Fair trade guarantees a stable price for the farmers and growers that, in turn, ensures production costs can be met.

"It also provides a premium that can be reinvested in business, social, environmental and community schemes in their wider community. In return people’s lives are changed for the better through better health, education and training. It is clearly something many people believe in doing - if they didn’t we would not have seen the huge rise in sales over the last few years."

The City Council believes this is a message that can also influence the regeneration of the city and the investment such community regeneration brings. A spokesperson for the Council said

"Fair trade sets the standards for a fairer deal for everyone. It’s an international issue with a very local impact. In time we’d like to think the same supportive and sustainable principles could be applied to local farmers, growers and suppliers. We will be looking at these opportunities in the coming months."

Fair Trade has come a long way from its initial image as an eco friendly, community or international development initiative. Sales of Fair Trade products topped £100 million in 2003 alone and, like the boom in organic foods, the sector is enjoying unprecedented growth. This is good news for the many thousands of people in developing countries who benefit each year.

There are now over 130 different products available in the UK including wine, flowers, fruit, sugar, honey, juices and nuts…as well as the increasingly popular fairly traded teas, coffees and, of course, chocolate.

This announcement marks the start of a number of small initiatives to promote Fair Trade produce across the city. Plans are now being drawn up for a range of events including awareness workshops, events for Fairtrade Fortnight in 2005 (1 to 13 March)

July 2004