Sales of Fairtrade products grew strongly in 2010 and wine sales almost tripled. Overall, it was a year of impressive growth for Fairtrade. Shoppers spent more than 4.36 billion Euros on Fairtrade products, up by 27 percent over 2009. Four products saw more than 100 percent growth.
To read the full article, please visit the Fairtrade International website.
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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The members of Fairtrade International have voted to increase the influence and ownership of producers, making them half-owners of the Fairtrade certification system. Since 2006, certified producer organisations have been co-owners with labelling initiatives from consumer countries but the recent decision implies that the producers will now have an equal voice in the highest decision-making body of Fairtrade International. In the future the General Assembly will include 12 delegates from Fairtrade labelling initiatives and 12 delegates from producer organisations.
To read the full article, please visit the Fairtrade International website.
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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People sometimes question the impact that social media has on our society. Change.org certainly believes in the power of collective blogging.
Today marks the Fourth anniversary of Blog Action Day. In the summer of 2007 Collins and Cyan Ta’eed recruited thousands of bloggers to write about the issue of environment on October 15, 2007. The initiative achieved unexpected success and since then Change.org has carried on the campaign, annually encouraging the world’s bloggers to unite by posting about the same issue on the same day. In 2008 the subject was poverty, last year the campaign looked at Water. Change.org said “our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion around an important issue that impacts us all.”
Today, thousands of bloggers will take part in Blog Action Day 2011 discussing food issues that affect their communities and the rest of the world.
Here at Shared Interest we are keen to show how Fair Trade food helps farmers and communities improve their lives. The Shared Interest film below shows how our investors have made a difference. Candela works with nearly 300 Brazil nut gatherers (castañeros) and their families who live along the Madre de Dios River. The nuts are transported by river and road to Candela’s processing plant in Puerto Maldonado and then to Lima, from where nuts and oils are exported to Europe, North America and Australia.
If you would like to learn more about investing with Shared Interest please click here.
Have you been blogging about food today? If so we’d love to see what you’ve written so don’t be shy and send us a link!
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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Tomorrow Co-operatives Fortnight 2011, a national celebratory fortnight of all things co-operative, will be launched at Co-operative Congress in Birmingham.
There is a great wealth of variety and diversity in the UK cooperative scene and in order to promote this alternative way of working, the two week programme of events is
being organised by their voice in the sector Cooperatives UK.
To find out more about Co-operatives Fortnight please watch this video:
If you’re attending Co-operative Congress event please visit the Shared Interest exhibition stand or join the Shared Interest presentation at 10.15 – 11.00am on Sunday 26th June.
To keep an eye on the happenings of the national fortnight see the website. Please also check out our twitter feed @SharedInterest (http://twitter.com/SharedInterest).
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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We’ve kept you up to date with what the Shared Interest team got up to over Fairtrade Fortnight but what about the rest of the UK?
The Fairtrade Foundation have produced a little video showing some of the highlights of the Fortnight, from bunting decorating to Facebook challenges this year’s activities were certainly creative. I think if pushed, the cake shaped like bunting is my favourite from the video, what a way to show off your label!
You can view the video and the impact that showing off the label has on farmers and workers in the developing world below.
Research shows that 49% of the UK public knew that it was Fairtrade Fortnight and a further 29% purchased a Fairtrade product during the campaign. With a huge 57,000 likes on Facebook and 77% of the UK recognising the Fairtrade Mark this really does feel like an exciting time to be part of the Fairtrade movement.
So, how are we going to top this success and make Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 the best yet?!?
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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The global sugar market is heavily distorted by a complex combination of trade measures. The European Union (EU) ensures high internal prices and export subsidies for its domestic sugar beet producers. This often leads to overproduction and the dumping of excess sugar onto world markets. Subsequently it is estimated that global sugar prices have decreased by 12%. The EU has also imposed steep import tariffs on sugar cane producing countries in Latin America.
Costa Rica is one of these countries. Jaris de Mora is a small farmers’ town in the South West Mountains of Costa Rica Central Valley. The town consists of 50 families, all of whom are reliant on the sugar co-operative, Asoproodulce to sell their small crops of sugar cane. Unfortunately, due to prohibitive local legislation there are no other channels through which these farmers can sell their produce. Small sugar mill houses were closed throughout the country for a number of reasons, namely because of their negative environmental effects; for example farmers were burning old tyres to heat the sugar cane juice.
The Development Education Corporation of Costa Rica (CEDECO) is a pioneer in promoting organic agriculture and agro-ecology. The group has been in operation since 1988 and has worked with Asoproodulce, to set up a proper mill house which meets both local and international regulations. This means that Jaris de Mora residents are able to source their incomes locally, selling their sugar cane directly to Asoprodulce. The social impact is huge as without the co-operative these farmers would have no other way of finding a market for their produce. The co-operative’s dedication to fair trade also means that the Fairtrade Premium is used to impact the community positively.
One producer that sells to Asoproduce is Juan Valverde Sánchez. Juan says: “I know that if I bring my sugar to the association they’ll buy from me at a fixed price. I’ve got security, whereas in the old days, selling was more difficult. Sometimes the middlemen bought sugar from one person, sometimes from another. You never knew. There were always changes in the national price. There were very bad months.”
Asoprodulce are planning to use their Shared Interest facility to build two new mill houses which will allow them to store and process the sugar cane more efficiently which ultimately means helping more Costa Rican sugar cane producers to access international markets.
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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I think it’s safe to assume that everyone knows it is Red Nose Day tomorrow. I am also pretty confident that the majority of the UK is aware that Fairtrade coffee is available at most major supermarkets, including Aldi, as announced during Fairtrade Fortnight.
What even the most Fairtrade savvy amongst you might not realise however, is that in addition to selling Red Nose paraphernalia, Sainsbury’s has gone the extra mile this year in its efforts to support Comic Relief and indeed Fairtrade.
The supermarket is working with Twin Trading in an attempt to rejuvenate the coffee industry in two African countries by releasing a new limited edition Fairtrade coffee for Red Nose Day. This will see the first high quality coffee from the war torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) available in the mainstream market since the 1960s. The coffee is a blend of beans from the Sopacdi co-operative in DRC and the Mzuzu co-operative in Malawi, creating a unique Fairtrade coffee blend. In addition to the usual benefits that the Fairtrade Mark bring to producer groups, at least 30p per pack will be donated to Comic Relief.
Both co-operatives face huge barriers in accessing markets for their product. Every year in the Lake Kivu region of DRC around 1,000 people die as they attempt to swim – with their coffee -illegally across Lake Kivu into Rwanda in search of higher prices.
The Mzuzu co-operative face different challenges, their current farming system is vulnerable to changing climatic conditions and is overly dependent on expensive inorganic fertilizers. To secure the quality and increase the yields of this coffee in the long term, Mzuzu farmers are developing more sustainable production systems.
Liz Jarman, Sainsbury’s head of Fairtrade, said: “This is a unique coffee with a fantastic back story. By buying it, customers will not only get a great coffee, they can also feel satisfied that they doing their bit to help lift two of the world’s poorest countries out of poverty.
“The coffee will make a very real difference to farmers in these countries, and should help prevent many farmers dying in an effort to find more lucrative markets for their coffee.”
Twin Trading have collaborated on the project providing expertise in developing smallholder commodity supply chains. Twin has worked with both co-operatives to develop the supply chain and build local capability in agronomy, management and coffee exporting. Ian Barney, Twin’s Managing Director, said: “We are delighted about the launch of this coffee and the profile it gives smallholder producers in both regions. We have been working closely with producers in both countries and know how much pride they take in their coffee. This is an important milestone for the farmers and communities of Sopacdi and Mzuzu and will put quality coffee from both regions on the map.”
Shared Interest’s Managing Director, Patricia Alexander added: “This product really reflects the mission of Shared Interest to help producers working in severely disadvantaged circumstances. It’s great to see the additional contribution to Comic Relief as the organisation supports Shared Interest Foundation as well as other significant projects across Africa.”
The coffee is available in Sainsbury’s now so next time you’re in don’t forget to pick up a bag and as always, let us know what you think!
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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We are thrilled to bring you news that the Fairtrade Foundation launched Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 today by announcing that sales of Fairtrade products soared by 40% in 2010 to an estimated retail value of £1.17bn compared with £836m in 2009.
UK shoppers are continuing to embrace Fairtrade, showing no downturn on ethical values despite the tough economic times.
Figures released today by the Fairtrade Foundation reveal that every day in the UK, we are now consuming some 9.3 million cups of Fairtrade tea, 6.4 million cups of Fairtrade coffee, 2.3 million chocolate bars, 530,000 cups of Fairtrade drinking chocolate and 3.1 million Fairtrade bananas. New categories are also growing with over 1million cosmetic products using Fairtrade ingredients also being sold in 2010.
‘It is fantastic to break the first billion,’ says the Fairtrade Foundation’s Executive Director, Harriet Lamb. ‘Fairtrade is going from strength to strength because the public want it, it makes business sense, and most importantly because it’s working for the millions of farmers, workers and their families who see Fairtrade as their lifeline in these tough times. They’ll be cheering to know that UK shoppers and businesses still care. The challenges of global poverty and inequality are more serious than ever, especially for the farmers who grow the coffee, tea, bananas, rice or cotton on which we depend here in the UK. This first billion shows the potential for change. If the public, businesses and producers can now build on that momentum, Fairtrade could get to £2 billion by the end of 2012 . It’s ambitious, but it really would be game changing.’
The extension of Fairtrade range into new areas such as cosmetics has opened up opportunities for more producers in the past year. Juliana Sampana, a shea nut gatherer from the Co-operative and Shared Interest customer Akoma Co-operative in Ghana, which has recently started selling shea butter into the UK Fairtrade cosmetics market, says: ‘The women who are from poor communities like Pusu-Namogo are blessed. Many women in our region and elsewhere have over the years worked so hard to put food on their tables for their families through farming and other odd jobs but end up with an unfair income leading to several deficiencies as a result of poor dieting. The majority of their money is spent on treating deficiency-related illnesses such as kwashiorkor, beriberi and skin rashes. With Fairtrade the women are assured of receiving a fair wage for their hard work.’ With the Fairtrade premiums they have now earned, the women have been able to provide health insurance as well as buy school uniforms for their children. Juliana is visiting the UK to speak at Fairtrade Fortnight events.
Support for Fairtrade in local communities continues to surge in the UK, where the FAIRTRADE Mark is recognised by 74% of the public . Vibrant community campaigns in more than 500 Fairtrade Towns across the country, along with thousands of schools and universities, faith groups (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu), are helping the public make a personal and local connection to Fairtrade. Responding to that public support, major company moves to Fairtrade have contributed to the 2010 growth figures.
Fresh commitments for Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 include The Co-operative’s announcement to convert all commodities that can be Fairtrade to Fairtrade by 2013, starting with bananas. You can find out more by clicking here.
Pioneering Fairtrade companies have also introduced new products including the first Fairtrade raisins from Afghanistan launched by Shared Interest customer Tropical Wholefoods to support small-scale farmers in the Parwan province. TKMaxx and Comic Relief are using Fairtrade certified cotton from Mali for this year’s Red Nose Day T-shirts, designed by Vivienne Westwood.
Against a picture of overall growth, however, some product categories have struggled in the midst of recession. In particular, Fairtrade cotton sales have declined in the past year, as ethical ranges struggle to compete with a continuing trend for cheap, fast fashion. The Fairtrade Foundation has been particularly concerned about the restriction of market opportunities for cotton farmers in West African countries such as Mali, Senegal and Cameroon. As well as a campaign targeting the European Commission on the issue of continued global cotton subsidies, campaigners are putting a special focus on cotton during Fairtrade Fortnight, including an attempt to break the record for the world’s longest – and fairest – string of cotton bunting and bring attention to the plight of West African cotton farmers.
The Fairtrade Foundation has also teamed up with renowned fashion designers including Marios Schwab and Holly Fulton to create Fairtrade Collective, a bespoke range of highly desirable, beautifully made scarves made from Fairtrade certified cotton for influential fashion e-tailer ASOS. A photographic exhibition of celebrities wearing Fairtrade cotton by Trevor Leighton is also now touring the country. You can find out more about the Fairtrade Collective by clicking here.
The theme of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight is Show Off Your Label, to encourage people to have fun as they discuss the serious values of sustainability, fairness, opportunity and empowerment that lie behind the FAIRTRADE Mark. In schools, on high streets, in work canteens, and faith groups, Fairtrade supporters will get loud and proud in support of a fair deal for producers and the stories behind the Fairtrade products they buy. Typically 12,000 events are held, everything from coffee breaks to debates, suppers, quizzes and fashion shows. Laugharne School in Carmarthenshire, Wales, will be celebrating its status as the 500th Fairtrade School in the UK.
The number of producer groups selling into the UK Fairtrade market increased from 496 to 560 between 2009 and 2010. Some 39% of the individuals in these groups are from Least Developed Countries.
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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As its London Fashion Week we thought we would remind all you budding fashionists that there is still time to enter our Fairtrade Fortnight schools competition.
Hopefully those of you in the North East will have heard about the competition on Real Radio (100-102FM) who is collaborating with us and Newcastle City Council on the project.
We are asking teachers to help us get classmates together and show us what Fairtrade means to them by designing a T-shirt. All you need to do is download the template off the website, scan in the designs and upload them using the form provided. We will be updating our blog with all the latest entries and you can also check them out on Real Radio’s website.
The winning class will see their designs professionally made and get their own private viewing at the cinema, celebrity style! Full details on how to enter can be found on the Real Radio website.
Even if you aren’t involved with a school in any way, don’t forget that from Monday 28th February to Sunday 13th March it’s Fairtrade Fortnight. You may remember last year’s Big Swap campaign which saw the UK swap one million household items for their Fairtrade alternatives. This year’s theme is Show Off Your Label so don’t forget to tell your friends and family about your Fairtrade purchases and most importantly let them know about Shared Interest!
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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We were thrilled to receive an invitation to the ‘Join the Revolution’ event which was organised by the Co-operative Group to re-launch their ethics. At the event they revealed a new three-year Ethical Operating Plan, something they have never officially had as part of their business plan. They want to lead the way for other businesses to follow – hence the name ‘Join the Revolution’.
They are doing this now as they feel there is a need for a ‘steep change’ in ethics given the climate we are living, and trading, in. The plan covers many areas including protecting the environment, keeping communities thriving and supporting co-operatives.
We are very pleased that a vital element of the plan is devoted to tackling global poverty through Fairtrade. Subsequently, the Co-operative Group will continue to show their commitment to Fairtrade in the UK, remaining second to none in terms of availability and overtrade, and will now aim that if a primary commodity from the developing world can be Fairtrade, it will be Fairtrade by 2013. They plan that 90% of the primary commodities sourced from the developing world will be certified to Fairtrade standards by 2013.
They will also develop a unique range of projects and initiatives that benefit producers. For example, in Malawi, they are running a three year project to provide water pumps, toilets and fuel-efficient cooking stoves to over 10,000 people in Fairtrade communities with whom they trade.
We fully support this new revolutionary approach to social responsibility. You can view the plan by clicking here.
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Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation |
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