Show off your labels for Fairtrade fortnight

During Fairtrade Fortnight, Monday 28th February – Sunday 13th March, the Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group is appealing to everyone to ‘Show Off Your Label’ and be loud and proud about what Fairtrade means to you.

Fiona Watters, member of Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group, said; “During this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight we’re asking everyone to show off their Fairtrade labels. Proudly display your Fairtrade bananas, chocolate, tea, coffee and cotton to your friends and family and encourage them to switch to Fairtade products.

“If you are a business owner serving Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar in your café, tell your customers about it and if you stock Fairtrade cotton, body creams and chocolate, let your shoppers know.”

In a bid to encourage local residents to become involved in Fairtrade Fortnight and ultimately highlight the importance of the Fairtrade campaign, Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group has organised a series of events throughout the North Coast. Organisers are delighted to announce the first ever Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Café Awards inviting local tea and coffee connoisseurs to vote for their favourite Fairtrade-friendly Café. Members of the public are encouraged to place their vote for one of the following establishments; Cornerstone Garvagh, Ground Espresso Bar’s Coleraine and Portrush, Pieces of Eight, Coleraine and Starbucks, Coleraine.

Register your vote now at www.colerainebc.gov.uk/fairtrade or by writing to Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group care of Coleraine Borough Council. Voting closes on Sunday 13th March.

The local Fairtade is also engaging with schools in the area to spread the word about Fairtrade to the younger generation. Local schools are being challenged in a Fairtrade Bake-Off, children will be required to bake a cake by swapping their usual sugar, chocolate and bananas for Fairtrade ingredients. Finalists in the bake-off will be awarded the opportunity to meet Anna Mlay, a Fairtrade representative visiting North Coast Integrated College from the Karagwe District Co-operative Union in Tanzania. During her stay, Anna will also meet with members of North Coast Integrated College’s School Council to discuss how Fairtrade has changed the lives of coffee growers in Karagwe.

If you would like to work with the Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group or contact us if you are a Fairtrade stockist, please contact Fiona Watters telephone; (028) 7034 7272 or email; [email protected].