So what exactly is FAIRTRADE?

With Fairtrade Fortnight coming up soon, use your purchasing power to help others

- RAE RITCHIE.

Most of us Brits – 93% – recognise the Fairtrade mark that appears on lots of everyday items. It’s black, green and blue, and looks a bit like the yin and yang symbol. But how many of us really know what Fairtrade is about?

What is Fairtrade?

The name Fairtrade sums up what the scheme is all about – to try to make trade fairer for farmers and workers in the developing world. It tells you that growers should have received a fair price for their produce and work in decent conditions (although there have been claims that the farmers don’t properly benefit from the higher prices charged for Fairtrade products in richer countries).

They also receive what’s called the Fairtrade Premium, money that they can invest in their communities to improve basic services, from access to water and immunization projects for children to pay teachers’ salaries.