Stand-up comics serve up the ethical message

MEDIA RELEASE

10/5/2011

Stand-up comics serve up the ethical message at A Fairtrade Breakfast in the City (12th May)

Comedians, business innovators, ethical consumers and just the plain curious are set to enjoy a special menu of Fairtrade messages and breakfast treats at this special sold-out event at Britomart Country Club in Auckland from 7-9am this Thursday 12th May.

Multi-award winning comic, Michele A’Court and Comedy Festival favourite, Jeremy Elwood will embrace the spirit of the Fair Trade Fortnight “Show Off Your Swap” campaign. They’ll be getting loud & proud for Fairtrade and shouting out about how it helps more than six million small-scale farmers, workers and their families in developing countries achieve a better life and a more sustainable future.

New Zealand represents one of the fastest growing markets for Fairtrade in the world and last year retail sales of Fairtrade Certified products in New Zealand soared 100% to $36.6 million. In their first year on sale Kiwis munched through one million Fairtrade bananas, contributing and extra $80,000 in Fairtrade premium to a community in Ecuador (on top of the fair and stable Fairtrade price). The farmers at El Guabo used the cash to help fund a special needs school.

Event organiser, Alex Williams from Fairtrade ANZ said “As well as some early morning laughs, Michele and Jeremy might take on any game breakfasters in shooting a few hoops of Fairtrade netball with Fairtrade Certified balls. An old fashioned photo booth will enable guests to take quirky pics with Fairtrade banana smiles and other creative poses and upload them to fairtradefortnight.com and show off their Fairtrade swap to the world, and they could win a $1000 Mazzer coffee grinder.”

Special guest speaker will be Will Vaverde Padilla from Fairtrade coffee and sugar cooperative, Coope Agri in Costa Rica. Will will share a first-hand insight into how the fair and stable price and the additional Fairtrade Premium have provided a host of social and environmental benefits to whole communities in Costa Rica.

A Fairtrade Breakfast in the City is part of Fair Trade Fortnight (7-22 May), NZ’s biggest annual celebration of all things fair trade. Fairtrade ANZ CEO, Stephen Knapp said “This entertaining and inspirational breakfast is a sell-out and will be a great way for businesses and individuals to learn more about how swapping to Fairtrade Certified products helps empower small-scale farmers and workers to trade their way out of poverty - and hopefully inspire them to tell their friends and maybe become a Fair Trade Workplace, school or university“ said Stephen.

Breakfast fare will include unlimited Fairtrade coffee and hot chocolate, Fairtrade bananas and banana bread and other healthy options courtesy of Kokako, Caffe L’affare and All Good. Drinks can be taken away in a special complimentary sustainable keep-cup from Heart of the City.

Other events throughout the country include an exhibition of photographs of coffee and cocoa farmers in PNG from Fairtrade’s Maria Trogolo, supermarket product tastings and a special coffee break with politicians in Wellington.

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