Reminding people about the Fairtrade mark

Young shoppers enjoy the taste of luscious Fairtrade chocolate, watched by Mayor of Fareham Cllr Mike Ford and Fairtrade Borough group member Jane Tredgett

This fortnight is our chance to remind people that the Fairtrade mark ensures that farmers in developing countries are paid a fair price for their products – bananas, chocolate, coffee and thousands more.

And the Fareham Borough Fairtrade group celebrated the start of this special fortnight with a successful stall in Fareham Shopping Centre last Saturday.

The centrepiece of the stall was a chocolate fountain, kindly lent by Fareham Community Church, where shoppers could dip a variety of Fairtrade fruits into delicious Fairtrade chocolate.

Chef and award-winning chocolatier David Greenwood-Haigh was on hand to give hints on tasting chocolate, and demonstrate how to make a luxurious ganache sauce using chocolate and double cream.

Fareham’s mayor and mayoress, Cllr Mike Ford and Anne Ford, Fareham MP Suella Fernandes and the leader of Fareham Borough Council Seán Woodward also came to show their support for Fairtrade.

It was great to chat with shoppers and send them away with chocolate smudges on their faces and a new understanding of the benefits of Fairtrade.

Fairtrade is a really simple way to make a real difference to poor communities in the developing world.

By choosing products that bear the Fairtrade mark, you can be sure that your purchase will give those who produced it a fair price and a better life.

Fairtrade Fortnight runs until March 13, and there are plenty of other ways you can get involved.

For more details about the Fairtrade Mark, see fairtrade.org.uk.

Or go to fftb.org.uk or contact me on 01329 312895.