Bath is putting fair trade in the spotlight with a series of events over the next fortnight, including a visit by a Nicaraguan Fairtrade coffee farmer.
The University of Bath is partnering with Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) and Bath Spa University to host a Fairtrade Producer event next Wednesday. 
Nicaraguan Fairtrade producer Ana Maria Gonzalez will share her experiences and there will also be a talk by Fairtrade foundation chief executive Michael Gidney.
The event, which takes place at The Edge on The University of Bath’s Claverton Down Campus from 1pm – 2:30pm, will also include short film presentations and a panel debate.
The theme of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight is ‘Sit down for breakfast, stand up for farmers’, with the focus of supporting farmers who grow breakfast staples such as coffee, tea, sugar, cocoa and bananas.
During the campaign, communities across Bath and North East Somerset will be supporting the campaign with a series of fun and informative events, ranging from talks with producers to tastings and quizzes.
In addition several schools, churches and other organisations are hosting Fairtrade bake-offs and Fairtrade breakfasts.
This year’s events follow the successful reaccreditation of Fairtrade status for the communities of Saltford in 2014 and Bath and Keynsham last year.
To achieve this each area had to achieve five goals – council involvement; the establishment of a steering group; Fairtrade products being sold in local shops, cafes and restaurants; Fairtrade in the community; and public and media outreach.
Fairtrade Fortnight, which lasts until March 11, aims to raise awareness of the need for fair pay and better working conditions for the millions of farmers and workers in developing countries who grow the food we eat.
B&NES cabinet member for community services Martin Veal, who is also chairs the environmental sustainability partnership board, said: “Fairtrade is a method of trading which guarantees a better deal for producers in the developing world. They are paid a stable price which covers their production costs and a premium that they can invest in the business or in social and environmental schemes for the wider community.
“By purchasing Fairtrade goods shoppers, businesses and organisations can make a real difference to the lives of those living in developing countries.”
For a full programme of events visit http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/fairtradeevents
The fortnight culminates in the South West Fairtrade Business 2016, which take place in Bristol next Friday.
This year’s awards ceremony will be hosted by ethical beauty and wellbeing guru Liz Earle MBE, who has launched a range of Fairtrade Gold jewellery in association with Cred Jewellery. The Fairtrade Brunch and business-to-business networking at the ceremony will be sponsored by Shared Interest Foundation. Bath Business News’ sister title Bristol Business News will again be media partner of these prestigious awards.
For more information contact Jenny Foster, Bristol and South West Fairtrade co-ordinator at bristolfairtradenetwork@gmail.com
