Banbury Fairtrade group focus on. . . chocolate!

Fairtrade Action Banbury has been ensuring that Banbury continues to be a Fairtrade Town an accolade first achieved in 2006 and are committed to continuing the fight for producers in developing countries to be paid fairly for their work.

This year the focus is on cocoa farming and chocolate industry.The UK chocolate industry is worth at least £4 billion each year and yet the average cocoa farmer in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, where 60 per cent of all cocoa is grown, makes less than 75p per day.

This is well below the extreme poverty line of around £1.40 per day.

For the women, life is particularly tough. They may plant and harvest on the farm, look after children, carry water, collect wood, cook and clean for the family, and transport the cocoa beans to market but often with fewer rights than men.

If you buy products with the Fairtrade Mark clearly on the packet, you can be sure that the producers have been given a fair wage and safe conditions to work in. Their communities are also given a premium which helps to provide clinics, school and clean water.

Over the next two weeks there will be a window display in the High Street advertising Fairtrade and decorated with bunting provided by Banbury schools, encouraging the town's residents to ask shops and cafes if they sell Fairtrade goods/coffee/tea and in particular chocolate, and choose to buy it.

If you would like to know more about Fairtrade Action Banbury (FAB) contact [email protected]. The group would especially love to hear from anyone who can offer social media skills to help us make Banbury aware of their work.