Lincoln is marking its ninth year of fair trade, now with over 80 local businesses supporting the global campaign.
Lincoln first gained Fairtrade city status in 2013, after achieving five goals to support the movement. This included serving Fairtrade products, ensuring at least four Fairtrade products ranges are readily available in local retail outlets, ensuring local workplaces and community organisations support Fairtrade, alongside having regular Fairtrade meetings.
In turn, contributing to 7 million people including producers, workers and their families who have benefited from the Fairtrade Foundation.
Fairtrade is an arrangement designed to help producers in developing countries achieve sustainable fair-trade deals and follow three simple principles: maintain long-term direct trading relationships and pay fair prices. No child labour forced or otherwise exploited labour.
Local supporting businesses can be identified through Fairtrade window stickers displayed on their premises.
Garry Goddard, Café Shanti’s Co-owner, and owner of one orphanage and four schools named Jīvanakō jyōti (light of life) in Nepal said: “The Fairtrade festival will definitely be something we are interested in and encourage others to be involved because to a lot of people it’s just an image. The Fairtrade image, the word. But they do not know what it actually means and the amount of suffering and hardship these people in other countries go through to have food. Most of them, about 99% of the communities are exploited by bigger countries like this one. We buy off them for unfair rates because they are so desperate for money.”
“So, yes. It would be great to open other people’s eyes.”
The Lincoln Fairtrade community ask citizens to attend Fairtrade’s ‘Choose the World You Want,’ online festival to “engage, inform and educate,” people about the harmful effects of the climate crisis on farmers and food suppliers.
Scott Lea, City of Lincoln Council Policy support officer: “Due to Covid-19, we have been forced to deliver this online, however, we are hopeful due to ease of access that the festival will reach a wider number of residents across the city.”
The online festival will go on between 22nd February – 7th March hosting events designed to encourage people to think more ethically about their food sources.
Garry Goddard: “Fairtrade seems to have been pushed further and further back into the background these last couple of years. It’s important for the sake of the planet, if we buy Fairtrade products from Africa or Asian countries, then we are helping the right people to simply eat.”