The FAIRTRADE Mark Awarded to products that meet internationally recognised standards of fair trade

The FAIRTRADE Mark guarantees: ◊to give a fair price which is stable (and covers the cost of production) ◊to give an extra payment (a social 'premium‘) (to help producers improve their living and working conditions) ◊to give contracts to producers (so they can plan ahead) ◊to give producers advance payment (so that they can avoid falling into debt) ◊greater respect for the environment

There are now more than 3,000 Fair Trade products available in the UK

Fairtrade Foundation rules: ◊ farmers' organisations must be democratic – these are usually co-operatives ◊ workers must be allowed to join trade unions ◊ workers must get decent wages ◊ workers must have decent housing ◊ workers must have decent health and safety standards ◊ projects must be sustainable – no damage to the environment ◊ child labour must not be used

Buy traffik-free chocolate Buy Fair Trade!

Bananas Bananas are the biggest-selling fruit in the UK, and the most valuable grocery product for supermarkets Fairtrade bananas are available in Co-op, Sainsbury and Waitrose stores, most branches of Asda, Booths, Budgens, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Nisa, Somerfield, Spar, Tesco and other small food stores

Value of FairTrade bananas sold in the UK

Bananas are covered with polythene to protect them from pests.

On shipment days the bananas are harvested by hand and taken to the packing area...

... where they are cut into ‘hands’, washed and checked for defects...

... before being packed in boxes for transport... These bananas are being packed for sale ‘loose’ in UK supermarkets Some FairTrade bananas are packed in bags (of about 1kg) and these provide a better price for the producers

Local companies transport the bananas to the ports

At the ports the bananas are loaded onto pallets and then packed into specially designed ships which can keep the bananas from ripening too much on the journey to the UK market

FairTrade banana producers get about 6p extra per kilo of bananas. This is used to help improve conditions – for example: ◊business and community improvements ◊equipment and furniture for local schools ◊repair of farm access roads ◊hand tools bought to replace chemical weed control ◊buy a lawn mower to help provide a sports area Benefits of Fair Trade for banana producers

Go Bananas Day!

Fair Trade at the Nairn Show

Thanks to 'The Fairtrade Foundation‘ for permission to use their copyright images