All's fair this fortnight

Adam Hewitt • Published 25 Feb 2010 10:00 0 Comments

SHOPPERS are being urged to buy more Fairtrade products as part of The Big Swap campaign.

Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until Sunday, March 7, celebrates the wide range of goods on offer throughout the town and shows off how far Reading has come since it gained Fairtrade Town status in 2004.

Bente Madeira, of Reading Fairtrade Group, said: "Uptake in Reading has expanded beyond expectation. There is now a much larger Fairtrade Directory, in addition to the mini-directory which has all sorts of additional information for supporters. This kind of solidarity makes me proud to be part of Reading's active citizens."

Reading's Fairtrade Town status means it has a borough-wide commitment to selling Fairtrade products, backed up with action from the council, businesses, schools and churches.

There are Fairtrade events happening all across town:

- There is a photographic exhibition in High Street throughout the fortnight, including projections by artist Jethro Leonard on Saturday.

- Mayor Fred Pugh is hosting a Fairtrade Breakfast tomorrow (Friday) in his parlour at the Civic Centre from 9.30am. All are welcome.

- The Civic Centre has an exhibition showing the wide range of Fairtrade products grown and made in the developing world.

- Students have invited a tea producer from south India to give them a different perspective. On Monday from 7pm, Vinay Devaiah, manager of the Thiashola Tea Estate, will give a talk and answer questions about the scheme's effect on farmers and producers. There will also be tea to sample at the talk in the Palmer Building on the Whiteknights campus, which is open to all.

- Morrisons in Rose Kiln Lane is among those stores offering 25% discount on selected fair trade products including Madagascan vanilla ice cream and Costa Rican coffee. It will help improve working conditions, sustainability and fair terms for farmers and workers in the developing world. Contact 0118 931 0356.

Cllr Paul Gittings said: "Every Fairtrade product purchased can make a difference to the producers and help them work their way out of poverty."

For more events, visit www.readingfairtrade.org.uk

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