Scotland is celebrating a decade as a Fair Trade Nation on February 25th; and Orkney has now clocked up 9 years as a Fairtrade Zone.
Fairtrade Fortnight begins this year on Monday 27th February, and Orkney Fair Trade Group are planning a two-week promotion of Fair Trade in local cafés. Coffee, Tea, Cocoa Sugar and Bananas are all getting more difficult to grow successfully because of climate change – we really do face the prospect of chocolate becoming increasingly expensive and scarce. Buying Fairtrade now helps growers to invest for the future in environmental protections like shade trees.
During Fairtrade Fortnight the Orkney public will be able to nominate their favourite café with a Fairtrade offer to win a top prize. Everyone who makes a nomination can get a free entry in a draw for a hamper packed with Fairtrade goodies – with an extra entry for those who provide a picture too.
The Group is also posting its findings to the Scottish Fairtrade Finders website where Orkney already makes a really impressive showing, as the top spot in the country for Fair Trade shop sales.
And watch out down the street for special live appearances by local actors portraying the Endangered Species!
Lorna Penny, Orkney Fair Trade Group chair, said:
“Last year we had a huge success with our retail promotion, with 37 shops across Mainland towns and parishes and in the isles selling Fairtrade products, and the Papay Co-op top of the shops for the extent of its ranges. We’re looking forward to great results from our lovely cafés too, with so many offering high quality locally baked goods and Fairtrade drinks. And we’re having fun organising costumes for our street performance!”
Fairtrade Fortnight will also see St Magnus Cathedral lit again in blue and green on Friday March 3rd, local church services and schools activities, and lots of online events highlighting how exploitation in the developing world contributes to climate change, and what Fairtrade does to help.
Full details will be available on Orkney Fair Trade Group’s Facebook page.
Categories: Local News
