Wales became the world’s first Fair Trade nation in June 2008. 15 years ago the first products bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark hit the shelves. In 1994, Green & Black’s Maya Gold chocolate, Cafédirect medium roast coffee and three varieties of Clipper tea were the first goods sold in the UK to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.
On 12 October, Fair Trade Wales Chairwoman, Ann Hemingway, attended number 10 Downing Street to celebrate Fairtrade’s birthday, a reception hosted by Sarah Brown.  Thanks to its supporters, the Fairtrade movement has gone from strength to strength and today shoppers can choose from more than 4,500 Fairtrade certified products including cotton clothing, bananas, wines, ice-cream and cosmetics.  Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation says: ‘Fifteen years ago our dedicated campaigners told us of the excitement they felt when the first Fairtrade products appeared in their local shops. Now we are calling on people to help us re-create that early excitement by encouraging everyone to fill their whole shopping basket with products from the Fairtrade ranges.’  On the same day, the UK Government announced it is to provide £12 million over the next four years in funding to Fairtrade and its international partners, in order to scale up its work supporting farmers in developing countries.
Visit www.fairtradewales.com / www.fairtrade.org.uk.

Story Courtesy of Cynnal Cymru