Check Out Fairtrade!
Fair Trade Fortnight (3rd – 18th May 2008)

'Check Out Fairtrade' this Fair Trade Fortnight and discover why the New Zealand and Australian Fairtrade Certified market is growing at almost 60% a year! With retail sales of nearly $8 million during 2007 in New Zealand alone it's clear that Kiwis are embracing the opportunity to be part of a worldwide phenomenon that is already making a difference to over seven million farmers, workers and their families across 59 of some of the world's poorest countries (1).

Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 (3rd – 18th May) is a two week celebration highlighting to consumers and businesses how their everyday buying decisions can help to make a world of difference. This annual promotional Fortnight kicks off with a call to New Zealand consumers to 'Check Out Fairtrade' at their local supermarkets.

Thanks to consumer demand and great tasting products a wider range of Fairtrade Labelled(2) products are now available at all major supermarkets across the country. However, for Fairtrade to continue growing Kiwis need a broader range of products to choose from and better access to them via their local supermarkets. That's why we are asking consumers to show their support for Fairtrade and in a united voice let New Zealand supermarkets know that if they stock Fairtrade, we'll buy it!

"By thinking about what we buy at the supermarket and supporting Fairtrade, we are able to make a tangible, personal difference with the reassurance that something as easy as thinking about the coffee we buy is helping to make a difference to another person, their family and community." says Steve Knapp, Director, Fairtrade ANZ(3).

Karuna Asthi, member of a Fairtrade tea cooperative in Sri Lanka(4) puts it simply: "It is thanks to the consumers' final choice at the supermarkets that we can now develop a water scheme to reach the most remote farmers in our cooperative and have seats at the schools our children attend."

There will also be Fair Trade Fortnight events across New Zealand giving consumers an opportunity to taste, brew, create, eat, drink, kick, watch, wear, learn about and support Fairtrade; from screenings of the award winning 'Black Gold' film, to Fairtrade Football matches, café promotions, coffee tasting opportunities and New Zealand's Biggest Coffee Break.

So 'Check Out Fairtrade' and not only will you experience great tasting Fairtrade products but you will also be making a difference to the lives of millions of farmers, workers and their families.

To 'Check Out Fairtrade' visit: www.checkoutfairtrade.org.nz for details on how to support the campaign. Here you can find out about the 'Best Fairtrade Supermarket in New Zealand' Award – New Zealand's first Award acknowledging supermarket support of Fairtrade as voted for by the public.

The 'Check Out Fairtrade' Campaign is supported by: World Vision, Oxfam, Tear Fund, Christian World Service, Amnesty International NZ, Salvation Army, Fair Trade Association ANZ and the Edmund Rice Network.

There is a full and varied programme of Fair Trade Fortnight events and details can be found at; www.fairtrade.org.nz.

ENDS

For more information about what is happening around the country visit www.fairtrade.org.nz

Notes to the Editor:

1)Estimated retail value of Fairtrade Certified products in New Zealand in 2007 = NZD $7.74 million. Estimated retail value of Fairtrade Certified products in Australia and New Zealand for 2007 = NZD $20.9 million. The global retail market for Fairtrade Certified products in 2007 was NZ$4.8 billion – information supplied by Fairtrade Labelling Australia and New Zealand. Fairtrade Certified products must carry the FAIRTRADE Label.

2)The FAIRTRADE Label is an independent consumer certification label which appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal. As a result of Fairtrade, these producers receive a Fairtrade Minimum Price that covers the cost of sustainable production as well as an extra Fairtrade Premium that is invested in social or economic development projects. For a product to display the Fairtrade Certification Label it must meet international Fairtrade Standards. Producer organizations supplying Fairtrade products are then certified against these standards by FLO-CERT, an independent certification body, which carries regular inspections.

3)Fairtrade ANZ is the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand, the regional body that brings together all organisations and individuals supportive of fair trade, and Fairtrade Labelling Australia and New Zealand that licenses the international FAIRTRADE Label and administers the Fairtrade Certification and Labelling system to provide an independent third party verified guarantee that a product has been produced and traded to international Fairtrade standards

4)Karuna Asthi is a member of the Small Organic Farmers Association (SOFA), a Fairtrade Certified tea cooperative that represents over 2,000 families in Sri Lanka. Local farmers used to sell their tea leaves by the side of the road. Now thanks to Fairtrade they have a sustainable income that has improved their ability to save and plan for the future. Farmers have reinvested the Fairtrade Premium into environmentally friendly agricultural practices and are focused on improving community infrastructure.

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