It is Fairtrade Fortnight, so we are celebrating all things Fairtrade. Read on to learn all about Fairtrade Fortnight and some of In Good Company’s favourite businesses who stock a range of Fairtrade goodies.

What is Fairtrade Fortnight?

Fairtrade is a global movement that works with farmers and workers so they can improve their living standards, invest in their communities and businesses, and protect our shared environment. Fairtrade achieves this by rallying a global community of millions – farmers and workers, supply chain partners, brands, retailers, shoppers, schools, government – to pay fair prices and uphold fair production standards and practices. Fair prices provide an immediate lifeline for farmers and workers struggling with low incomes and disadvantaged by global trade.

Climate change is making crops such as coffee, bananas and chocolate much harder to grow. Combined with deeply unfair trade, communities growing these crops are being pushed to the brink. So, from the 27th February to the 12th March, the Fairtrade Foundation are working to raise awareness over the challenges facing these communities. Join them in making small switches to Fairtrade-supported producers and protect some of your most loved foods and the planet.

Earth Natural Foods: 

Earth Natural Foods is a great independent food store packed with organic, vegetarian whole foods and ecological household goods. Within their selection, you will find delicious vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, biodynamic, and most importantly, in this case, Fairtrade foods.

Trying to source their produce as locally as possible, they have longstanding relationships with farms such as Ripple and Eden Farms which supply them directly. Their delicious range includes fresh bread, honey, home-made takeaways, oils, dried fruits, organic champagnes, wines and beers, artisan cheeses, dairy produce, toiletries, plus loose teas, coffees, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, herbs and spices, supplements, herbal and homoeopathic remedies. Phew! And if that wasn’t enough, every day they also sell a wide range of fresh cakes and pastries.

As an aside. Earth Natural Foods sell a great range of organic fruit and vegetables, including UK-grown root vegetables such as celeriac and parsnips. Their fruit and vegetables are sold loose, so by buying at Earth Natural Foods you can also help reduce packaging waste.

My Jamii Cafe

My Jamii Café is a non-profit social enterprise cafe which helps young people with additional needs.

They bake a range of cakes and brownies (including gluten-free options) in-store daily, as well as their croissants and pain au chocolate - which they say is why the cafe smells so good! Their loose leaf tea is ethically sourced from Suki Tea who are heavily involved in the Fairtrade movement. Over the last decade, their sourcing of Fairtrade certified tea such as their Breakfast Tea and Belfast Brew has meant over $300,000 of the Fairtrade Premium that Suki Tea elect to pay over and above the price of our tea per kilo, has gone direct to the tea farmers to democratically decide how they will invest that money in their community development and their future for themselves and their families. 

My Jamii Cafe aims to bridge the gap between youth services, work and school and give young people access to high-quality training, and improve their literacy and social skills to enable them to reach their full potential.

Good Food Catford

 Good Food Catford is a modern grocery store that prioritises local, organic and artisan foods, serves delicious Fairtrade coffee from a local roastery, Mont 58 Coffee. They also sell Mission Coffee Works beans, another good company.

Good Food also sells organic fruit and veg; artisan breads and pastries; wines from small independent producers; a range of locally brewed craft beer; Neal’s Yard cheese; British charcuterie; organic packaging-free groceries and deli fine foods.

They are a social enterprise meaning that all the money spent in-store is reinvested in the business, goes to pay the London Living Wage and to improve their service. They send nothing to landfill, and the kitchen uses food that might otherwise go to waste.

Ethika London

And last but by no means least, if you fancy toasting Fairtrade Fortnight then why not swing by Ethika London at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle. 

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They serve a range of delicious cocktails made using only Fair-Trade, ethically or locally sourced small-batch ingredients. They aim to reduce the distance their products travel so as to support local independent producers, and try to ensure that farmers in the developing world are paid a fair price for their produce by buying Fair Trade certified spirits. Their Black Forest spritz cocktail (£9) is made with FAIR quinoa vodka (organic and Fairtrade!) spiced blackberry, Fair Cacao, soda and prosecco - how good does that sound?! 

Even if you can’t make it to one of these good companies, you’ll find Fairtrade products everywhere - keep an eye out for the logo and choose Fairtrade to support better standards for workers everywhere.