More than 250 residents pledged their support for Fairtrade at the Fairtrade Fair held at the N1 Centre on Monday 3 October (11am to 3pm).<br><br>The courtyard of the N1 Centre was host to stalls with information on Fairtrade and displays of Fairtrade products. There were tastings of Fairtrade food and drinks, including a Fairtrade chocolate fountain that would make Willy Wonka proud. <br><br>People who signed a pledge of their commitment to buying Fairtrade products were entered into a raffle with the chance to win a DVD player and hampers of Fairtrade products. A range of companies had stalls or donated products for tastings, displays and prizes, including Green & Blacks, who donated 10 kilos of their Fairtrade Maya Gold chocolate to be melted in the chocolate fountain. Other supporters of the event included: Alara Wholefoods, Percol, Café Direct, Peros, the Co-op, Ethical Trading, Sainsbury’s, Starbucks, Equa (fair trade fashion), Le Chocolatier, Tropical Wholefoods, Silver Chilli, and Vintage Wines.<br><br>Fairtrade gives growers and producers in the developing world a fair deal. Islington is showing its support for Fairtrade by becoming a Fairtrade Borough. This is part of the wider campaign for London to become a Fairtrade City. <br><br>The Fairtrade Town (or borough, city or zone) initiative was set up the Fairtrade Foundation to encourage support for its FAIRTRADE Mark. The FAIRTRADE Mark guarantees disadvantaged producers in poor countries fair and stable prices for their products, a long-term trading relationship, decent wages, the right to join trade unions, and minimum health and safety standards. It also helps improve their communities and the environment through sustainable production.<br><br>Islington Mayor Jonathan Dearth spoke at the event to launch Islington’s Fairtrade Borough campaign, which will include further awareness-raising events in the future. <br><br>Cllr Bridget Fox, Executive member for sustainability, who also attended the event said: “Islington is well on the way to getting Fairtrade Borough status.<br><br>Fairtrade is good news for producers in poor countries, and local suppliers in the UK who stock their products.<br><br>We'd like everyone to come along to the Fairtrade day to see the growing range of goods on sale - not just coffee and bananas – but also beer and wine, footballs and even roses.”<br><br>For more information contact Michael Cumberbatch, Islington Council’s Fairtrade Implementation Officer on 020 7527 3453 or 8747.<br><br><br>Notes to Editors<br><br><br>About Fairtrade Borough status<br><br>To attain Fairtrade Borough status, there are several goals Islington needs to achieve. <br><br>We must develop community support for Fairtrade, with help from a community-led Fairtrade Steering Committee (Islington’s committee meets monthly at the Town Hall and new members are always welcome). <br><br>Fairtrade products need to be readily available in Islington’s shops, cafes and restaurants, and widely used in local workplaces, community and religious groups, schools and universities. <br><br>The council also needs to pass a resolution in support of Fairtrade (this was done in January 2004), use Fairtrade tea and coffee in its offices, and publish a directory of local Fairtrade retail and wholesale outlets. <br><br>Islington is close to achieving all of these goals and will soon be applying for Fairtrade Borough status. <br><br>For further information see www.fairtrade.org.uk.<br><br>Ends
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009