Harlow applies for Fairtrade town status
Harlow could soon be officially helping the
world’s developing countries by becoming a “Fairtrade” town.
Harlow Council and Harlow Fairtrade Town Group
have applied for the status after reaching the five Fairtrade
goals. The application is being considered with the town likely to
find out if it has been successful early next year.
Harlow Council Chairman Lorna Spenceley will
make the announcement on Sunday at Harlow Show to guests from
around the town and Essex. To mark the occasion many of the
refreshments served in Lorna’s hospitality marquee will be
Fairtrade marked products.
Cllr Spenceley, said: “A lot of work has gone
into promoting Fairtrade locally and meeting the five goals, so we
are confident the application will be successful. Achieving
Fairtrade status would be a major achievement for the town. It
would mean that Fairtrade products are both readily available and
used by local organisations and the town would be recognised
worldwide as a place helping to promote Fairtrade.
“Fairtrade changes lives. It seeks to
guarantee a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing
world, who struggle to provide for their families. Today there are
over 2000 Fairtrade marked products in the UK. Fresh fruit, coffee,
cotton t-shirts, tea, sugar, fruit juice, honey, chocolate,
flowers, sports balls, wines and beers are just some of the
products you can find which carry the mark.”
Cliff Moore, Business Development Manager for
Harlow Co-operative Development Agency who are part of the
Fairtrade Town Group, said: "The Harlow Co-operative Development
Agency are very pleased to be involved with the actions to
gain Fairtrade Town Status for Harlow, especially as the
Co-operative movement in general have backed the Fairtrade ideal
from the very earliest days of its existence."
Locally products can be found in Harlow
supermarkets. Products may be served in local cafes and used in
churches and schools. Harlow Council stocks both Fairtrade tea and
coffee in its vending machines and all events held in Council
facilities provide refreshments carrying the Fairtrade mark.
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