Great taste and fair trade

5 March, 2004

Shoppers are being encouraged to discover the great taste of fair trade products for themselves at the city centre Oxfam shop, during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Chair of the St Albans City and District Local Strategic Partnership, Cllr Brian Peyton discovered for himself products traded in a fair and ethical way for the benefit of growers and producers in developing countries.

"The Local Strategic Partnership is backing fair trade because it offers a real opportunity for shoppers and organisations to purchase goods in an ethical way that has a very positive benefit on the small-scale growers of the country of origin.

"The LSP represents a wide range of organisations including the district council, county council, the police and voluntary sector and together we have real consumer clout that can make a difference. We will be working with Churches Together to develop St Albans as a fair trade district," says Cllr Brian Peyton.

Currently, St Albans City and District Council are investigating with its catering suppliers opportunities for purchasing fair trade products, such as tea and coffee. Tea, coffee, chocolate and dried fruits are some of the goods stocked by the Oxfam Shop in Chequer Street, St Albans. During Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until 12 March, customers can try the great taste of fair trade foods for themselves with free food sampling. Free coffee tasting is available on Friday 12 March.The Farmers' Market on Sunday 14 March in St Albans City Centre will have an Oxfam staff selling Fairtrade goods.

"Over the past five years we have seen a steady increase in the amount of fair trade goods sold, but over the last 12 months we have seen a rapid 20 per cent increase in sales," says Oxfam manager, Kate Taylor.

City centre manager Melvyn Teare believes the district is quickly moving towards becoming a fairtrade town. "There is a directory of outlets inplace where fairtrade products can be purchased and there are several organisations involved in fair trade," says Melvyn
Oxfam was an early pioneer in the sale of fair trade and ethically produced goods. Today, many supermarkets stock a wide range of fair trade goods.

For more information contact Jane Ratford, public relations on tel: 01727 819317; j.ratford@stalbans.gov.uk.