Fairtrade Fortnight 2021 – Choose the World You Want
Fairtrade Fortnight is back! A two-week campaign, Fairtrade Fortnight aims to highlight the plight of farmers around the world by informing the everyday consumer about the origins of their food and products and some of the effects of their purchases.
Initiated by the Fairtrade Foundation in 1997, it has since then become an annual campaign. During which, individuals, groups and companies from all over the UK join Fairtrade Fortnight.
Starting February 22nd and ending on March 7th 2021, this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight will be celebrated online! Throughout the two weeks, Fairtrade Foundation has arranged an online festival that you can attend together with your family and friends.
To read more and register for the online festival visit the Fairtrade Foundation Festival.
Around this time last year, many of us rushed to the grocery shops in a frenzy hoping to stockpile essential food items and supplies. This, however, turned out to be unnecessary as the farmers and other essential workers maintained a steady stream of produce, food items and supplies. Further proving how dependent we are on farmers and their crucial work.
This year, to support these essential workers, Fairtrade Fortnight 2021 is campaigning to raise awareness around key problems that farmers face.
Climate Change
One of the biggest challenges farmers face right now.
According to the Fairtrade Foundation, farmers in countries such as Honduras and Kenya, are among those who contribute the least to climate change yet they are disproportionately affected by it.
They experience drought, crop disease, floods, heatwaves and shrinking harvests. Along with increased poverty due to the pandemic, it is proving to be even more complicated to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Low prices for their crops – this impacts them tremendously and makes it a real struggle to fight for their rights.
Monetary Shortage
It is only with more money that farmers will feel equipped to meet their everyday needs and deal with the challenges they face from climate change.
Choose the World You Want
The climate, fair trade and you as a consumer are all interlinked. During the pandemic, it has become even more evident. We rely on farmers to keep providing us with food, and it is only fair that the farmers should be able to rely on us consumers to make a better choice – which in turn will have a positive effect on their lives.
By opting for Fairtrade and/or other ethically sourced products, you as a consumer are making sure that somewhere in the world, a farmer is paid a fair price for his/her produce.
The Fairtrade pricing consists of a minimum price and a premium, this drives real tangible change.
Price: The Fairtrade price is a safety net of sorts as it protects them from low prices for their crops.
Premium: The premium is an additional sum on top of the price and the Fairtrade farmers get to choose how they spend the premium.
Our Commitment to Fairtrade – Coliman Allfresch
What sets us apart is our relentless commitment to both Fairtrade and organic produce.
A testament to that is our Fairtrade and organic certifications, and the numerous internal policies and projects which directly benefit our collaborators.
Some of the initiatives we have successfully launched are:
Health initiatives – oral, visual, mental health care and regular medical check-ups and stress prevention are some of the actions that this fund makes available to employees.
The Basic Basket initiative – we firmly believe that every human being deserves dignified housing, Coliman offers support by providing access to essential home equipment and appliances. But also a basket which provides essential products.
Emergency initiatives – when disasters such as earthquakes have struck, we have organised business units as collection centres to receive and send support to victims.
Exotifruit and Andrade Sun Farms Support Fairtrade
We are extremely proud of our Brazilian partners, Andrade Sunfarms who are both Fairtrade and GRASP certified.
They conduct business with the core belief that contributing to the betterment of their employees’ lives is a must. This is why Andrade’s main purpose is to create jobs within the region. This helps local families and also develops the local economy
By choosing Fairtrade and paying a fair price in supermarkets, you as a consumer ensure that producers are paid a fair wage for their work and communities can prosper in a sustainable way.
