Fair bit of fun set for the city

This week (22 Feb) sees the start of the national initiative Fairtrade Fortnight, and as one of the largest Fairtrade cities, Leeds will be hosting a wide variety of events, from coffee mornings to Fairtrade circuit training to raise awareness of the issue.

The Fairtrade initiative guarantees that farmers and producers receive a fair price for their crops and labour, providing stability and protection from fluctuating and low prices in international trade.

The fortnight was launched at the ‘Hungry for Activism’ event on Saturday 20 February at Leeds Civic Hall, and will be followed by a visit to the city by Nioka Abbott who has been a banana farmer in St Vincent for 23 years. She was one of the first female farmers involved in shipping Fairtrade banana’s from St Vincent and has been involved in Fairtrade for the last 10 years. She will visit schools and also attend a special ‘Meet the producer’ event which is open to the public at the University of Leeds. (4 March).

Further events include the ‘Making Fairtrade Normal Trade’ event being hosted in the council chamber at Civic Hall (Friday 26 February), and a Fairtrade Frenzy (Tuesday 2 March) hosted by Re’new, which will include Fairtrade circuit training, food tasting, cookery sessions and more.

The John Charles Centre for Sport will be visited by the President of Asoapia, a Columbian Fair-Trade consortium on Tuesday 23 February. The state of the art sports centre linked with a company called Cafeology who are a 100% Fair-Trade supplier a few years ago to change all their tea and coffee supplies.

The fortnight will finish with a Fairtrade stall at the International Women’s Day event (Friday 8 March) which will include beauty therapies, advice and information and a Fairtrade raffle.

Councillor Richard Brett, joint leader and executive board member with responsibility for international relations said:“Fairtrade Fortnight is always well received in Leeds, with many businesses and local people getting involved in some or all of events. I am confident that this year will be no different, and the activities taking place will raise awareness of this good cause throughout the city.”

To keep up to date with events and news from across the fortnight visit the dedicated website; www.fairtradeleeds.org.uk or email; steeringgroup@fairtradeleeds.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Cafeology get their Fairtrade products from sole supplier Asoapía, based in Columbia.

Asoapía is a non-profit group, formed mainly by small farmers who do not depend on work contracts, but their own work done with their families.


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For media enquiries, please contact;
Cat Milburn, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 247 4450
Email: Catherine.milburn@leeds.gov.uk