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“Buying Fairtrade products means that farmers have had a bit more money in their pocket. They also have the opportunity to decide how they invest that money collectively in things like clean water, schools and mobile health clinics. When you buy Fairtrade certified products, you can be proud that you are helping to change people’s lives.”  Sophi Tranchell, Fairtrade London and Divine Chocolate, also a member of the London Food Board

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The previous and current Mayor of London have both supported efforts to promote Fairtrade certified products to London’s citizens and institutions.

To ensure a better deal for marginalised producers in developing countries, the Fairtrade Foundation awards the FAIRTRADE Mark to products that meet international standards set by Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label that appears on UK products as a guarantee that producers have received a better deal. The five guarantees behind the FAIRTRADE Mark are:

• guarantees farmers a fair and stable price for their products
• guarantees extra income for farmers and estate workers to improve their lives
• guarantees a greater respect for the environment
• guarantees small farmers a stronger position in world markets
• guarantees a closer link between consumers and producers

The organisers of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games recognised the importance of Fairtrade in their catering standards. The London 2012 Food Vision commits the Games caterers to serve only Fairtrade certified tea, coffee, bananas and sugar, and to aspire to use more Fairtrade products in their menus. The same commitment has been taken up by the Greater London Authority and its functionary bodies – the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, the Fire Brigade and City Hall.

London Boroughs can also play a significant part in buying and promoting Fairtrade food, to help tackle global poverty, and 22 out of London’s 33 boroughs now have Fairtrade status, with more working towards this goal. In 2008, this progress gained London the remarkable status of the largest Fairtrade City in the world. This success is also mirrored in the achievement of 1,000 towns globally having Fairtrade status, 500 of which are in the UK.

Information about how to find Fairtrade suppliers is available on the Food Legacy website, supported by the Mayor of London and the London Food Board, see: www.sustainweb.org/foodlegacy/fairtrade/

What can London Boroughs do? Pass a resolution to become a Fairtrade Borough.

Contact Malcolm Clark at Fairtrade London, tel: 020 7837 2272; malcolm@fairtradelondon.org.uk; www.fairtradelondon.org.uk