A Fairer Boro!

The FAIRTRADE Mark, which is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation, is an independent product certification label that guarantees a better deal to disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries.

'I have been able to fix the roof of my house, there is more money for food and I can buy new shoes if I want to. We have lots of services that didn't exist before, but that make life easier: transport, health care, credit possibilities and shops with affordable basic necessities. But the most important contribution of the Fairtrade labelling system in my eyes is that our dignity as human beings is restored. We are no longer a plaything of the anonymous economic power that keeps us down'
Isaias Martinez, coffee farmer, Mexico

There are up to 2000 Fairtrade products available today; these include tea, coffee, sugar, snack bars, wine, fruit and fruit juices, cotton, flowers, and even footballs.

Middesbrough's Fairtrade Steering Group has been working for more than a year to increase awareness about Fairtrade, and to satisfy the criteria for Middlesbrough to achieve Fairtrade Town status. The criteria are listed below with an update on just how close we are:

1. Local council supports Fairtrade, has a policy on Fairtrade, and serves Fairtrade tea and coffee at all meetings.

Completed

2. A range of Fairtrade products is available in at least 30 catering outlets and 16 retail outlets

• 32 retail outlets selling two or more Fairtrade products
• 24 catering outlets serving two or more Fairtrade products

3. Business and organisational use of Fairtrade products

• Many Churches are serving Fairtrade tea and coffee
• The James Cook University Hospital is supporting Fairtrade by serving Fairtrade tea and coffee in all staff catering outlets
• The University of Teesside supports the Middlesbrough initiative to go for Fairtrade status; Fairtrade products are served in all University meetings and in all of their catering and retail outlets.
• A number of local businesses and workplaces are serving Fairtrade tea and coffee.

You can help by supporting Fairtrade in your own home, buying and asking for Fairtrade products when you are out, and also contacting us if your organisation, voluntary group, or business sells or serves Fairtrade products.

For more information about local action, contact Bob King at Middlesbrough Council, tel. (01642) 728233, email bob_king@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

For national Fairtrade information check out the Fairtrade Foundation website at www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Fairtrade directory download
Lists of retail and catering outlets selling Fairtrade products in Middlesbrough are available by following the links in the "Downloads" section to the right hand side of this page.

If you know of somewhere that is selling Fairtrade but is not included in the list, please email bob_king@middlesbrough.gov.uk and he will get it checked out.

For advice for faith groups, go to the Fairtrade Foundation's webpage at:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved_faiths.htm

For advice for schools, go to the Fairtrade Foundation's webpage at:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved_school.htm