Exeter residents urged to take a step for Fairtrade

Fairtrade Fortnight is now under way and runs through to Sunday 10 March.

The main event in Exeter will be a Fairtrade Tasting Market on Saturday 2 March from 10am-2.30pm in Bedford Square.

Oxfam will be joined at the market by the Co-operative and Sainsbury’s, who have Fairtrade products on display from the range in their stores and samples to taste. They will be encouraging people to ‘Take a Step for Fairtrade’ and switch their shopping to buy Fairtrade products.

This year, people are also asked to bring some dried or tinned food to donate to the Devon and Cornwall Food Association and the Exeter Foodbank in exchange for a fairtrade tea or coffee at St.Stephen’s Church, just along from Bedford Square.

Exeter City Councillor Ian Martin, said: "Foodbanks in this country are sadly becoming more important to support families in poverty.

"We hope people will make a link between donating food to support families in Exeter with taking the step of choosing Fairtrade products to support communities around the world."

Martyn Goss from Devon and Cornwall Food Association, said: "By donating dried or tinned goods people can support fair food for people in Exeter, as well as producers in other countries."

Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter, will welcome Fairtrade visitor Oscar Salazar, a coffee producer from Peru, to the city. Oscar's visit to Fairtrade communities around Devon has been organised by Devon Development Education Centre in Exeter and is supported financially by Co-operative Membership.

For more information on Fairtrade and how to get involved in the campaign in Exeter go to www.exeter.gov.uk/fairtrade or call 01392 265166.