Fairtrade

What is fair trade?

Almost all trade now is global not local. The rules which govern ‘free trade’ are unfair, favouring the rich nations of the ‘North’ at the expense of the poorer countries of the ‘South’. Fairtrade offers an alternative to conventional international trade, by working to overcome the injustices of ‘free trade’. As consumers we can choose to buy products that are fairly traded, and so contribute to a more just and peaceful world.

Date

Event

Help!

Buy Fairtrade

Keep looking here to keep up-to-date with our events.

We're looking for people to plan other events. Please contact Kate Hartland kateh@fish.co.uk or ‘phone 01883 372028 to volunteer. All 0ffers welcome!

Click here to download a pdf explaining the purpose of a Fairtrade Town.

Look out for the Fairtrade mark. This guarantees . . .

decent wages
minimum health & safety standards
a fair minimum price and a social premium for the community
a longer-term trading relationship
a commitment to better environmental standards and working towards sustainable production
the right for workers to join trade unions

Some fairly traded products do not currently display the symbol: this is because there are no international fairtrade standards yet available for those items. But you can have confidence in the products if they bear the name of a reputable organisation, such as:
Traidcraft Oxfam Tropical Wholefoods

Did you know that these Fairtrade products and brands are widely available?

* Coffee eg Cafédirect, Percol, Co-op own brand, Traidcraft
* Tea eg Clipper, Teadirect, Equal Exchange, Morrisons
* Cocoa eg Green & Black's, Cocodirect, Oxfam, Traidcraft
* Chocolate eg Divine, Green & Black's, Co-op, Sainsbury
* Sugar eg Equal Exchange, Traidcraft
* Honey eg Equal Exchange, Traidcraft
* Muesli eg Tropical Wholefoods, Traidcraft
* Fresh bananas, pineapple, mango, oranges, even apples
* Dried mango, pineapple, apricots etc - Tropical Wholefoods,Traidcraft
* Sultanas, raisins, mixed fruit - Traidcraft
* Wine - South African and Chilean, white and red
* Fruit Juice - 'Fruit Passion', including Tropical, Breakfast
* Cookies - Traidcraft - chocolate chip, ginger, brazil nut
* Geobars - Traidcraft - cranberry & raisin, apricot, chocolate
* Dried mushrooms - Tropical Wholefoods
* Rice and pasta - Traidcraft

Crafts, gifts, jewellery, stationery, items for the home
People Tree, Traidcraft, Tearcraft, Shared Earth

Fabrics, clothing, fashion - People Tree, Traidcraft, Bishopston Trading

The list is not exhaustive; new products and brands are being developed all the time. Get in touch if you find items and stockists not on this list! - we aim to update the list on this web-site regularly

Where can I buy fairly traded goods in Oxted, Hurst Green & Limpsfield?

Oxted United Reformed Church. Every Tuesday (IN TERM TIME)
from 10.30-12.30 and 2-4pm, there is a selection including coffee, tea, biscuits, muesli and delicious organic chocolate. Go there and have a look. Buy or just have a cuppa.
Oxted Health Foods
Safeway
Limpsfield Memorial Stores
‘Aggies on the Green’, Hurst Green.
Call in on Mon - Wed morning to buy Traidcraft goods and for coffee/tea
Many local churches, including the URC, Bluehouse Lane (Tuesdays in term time)
Woolworths

Further afield

Co-op; Westerham, Edenbridge (wide range of products)
Oxfam shop in East Grinstead (and other large Oxfams)
Sainsbury
Waitrose
Tesco
Costa Coffee, Starbucks - make sure you ask for Fairtrade
If you find other outlets stocking fairly traded goods, please tell us!

On the Internet or by Mail Order

Oxfam and Traidcraft; over 250 products! www.fairtradeonline.com
For fabrics/clothes. A fair trade partnership since 1985. www.bishopstontrading.co.uk Tel 01453 766355
The fair trade arm of Tearfund - Christian relief agency. www.tearcraft.org Tel 0870 240 4896
People Tree; eco-friendly fashion and handicrafts. www.ptree.co.uk
Tel 0845 450 4595 (local rate)
Crafts and stationery. www.sharedearth.co.uk
Healthy foods by mail order. Look at their fairtrade page.
click on the symbol (the old version - interlocked 'F's). www.goodnessdirect.co.uk

Help us to become a Fairtrade Town

A Fairtrade Town is a community which has made a commitment to support fair trade. We believe many people in Oxted, Hurst Green, Limpsfield, Limpsfield Chart and Tatsfield already agree with the aim of tackling poverty by giving a fair deal - not charity - to disadvantaged producers. We now have an opportunity to demonstrate our support.

We need to meet five goals including making products readily available, attracting publicity and getting the council to pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade.

If you want to get involved - this is what can you do. Click here to join

Each of us can find out more about Fairtrade, share what we know and act when we go shopping. If you would like to do more you could:

ask your favourite shop, pub, restaurant to stock fairly traded products
join the steering group to plan the campaign and special events
help with publicity - put up posters, write articles, design or hand out leaflets
talk about Fairtrade to a school or group of young people or adults
write to the council about Fairtrade