Tackling poverty isn’t just about giving aid; it is about increasing trade opportunities and ensuring that producers are paid a fair price for their work. Fairtrade is about changing the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fair deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.

It means farmers not only get a fairer price for their products, but they also get a little extra to invest in developing their farms, known as the Fairtarde Premium.  For many of the farmers, it means they can grow food for themselves and their families as well as crops to sell.

Meanwhile, for workers on large plantations, the money they earn from Fairtrade can help subsidise the cost of everyday food when times are tough.

By buying Fairtrade products here at home, you are buying into the Fairtrade ethos. When products have been certified as Fairtrade, it means they have been produced by small-scale farmer organisations or plantations that meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards – which include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price and an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business or community projects.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an important time each year to champion the importance of Fairtrade products and raise awareness about this global movement, highlighting the role that fair and ethical trade can play in helping the world’s poorest people.

The Co-operative movement has a proud record in blazing a trail for Fairtrade products and its wider awareness about Fairtrade. For example, the Co-operative Group has supported the Fairtrade movement for over 20 years and became the first UK retailer to sell and use only Fairtrade cocoa in all of its products. In addition to the meaningful trade links and guaranteed Fairtrade prices the Group and its member owners have raised £30million in Fairtrade Premiums which is estimated to have benefited 250,000 people.

1. Hold a Fairtrade Quiz in your workplace to win Fairtrade prizes.
2. Find out if your community is a Fairtrade Town, Village or even University, and see how you can help with this year’s celebrations.
3. Organise a Fairtrade coffee morning, and invite members of your community to come on in and learn more about Fairtrade. Don’t forget to invite your local newspaper along and / or your local Labour MP. The Co-op has a good guide to organising one.
4. If you are a school governor, there are plenty of resources for schools to get involved here.
5. Choose Fairtrade products and tweet about them during #FairtradeFortnight