As part of the town of Oundle initiative during Fairtrade Fortnight (29th February - 13th March) to host Fairtrade breakfasts in restaurants and churches across town, Oundle’s catering department has been considering the School’s Fairtrade policy and has been looking at how to make purchasing decisions based on better prices and fair terms of trade for farmers and producers.
During Fairtrade fortnight, the School community is selling Fairtrade items during break times and using Fairtrade coffee, tea, sugar and other products, including bananas at breakfast and afternoon tea.
House Food Reps are involved in choosing menus with catering staff, and pupils are encouraged to think about their own personal purchasing at break times, as well as ask shops about their Fairtrade policies.
Food Reps met with Oundle’s Fairtrade Council representative, Eleanor Rayden, who talked about the power of Fairtrade and the ethos behind it. Oundle has been recognised as a Fairtrade town for nine years and Mrs Rayden was pleased that the School was joining in the initiative of the fortnight.
The Fairtrade foundation seeks to work directly with producers and companies and seeks to improve understanding and awareness of the need for Fairtrade and Fairtrade products globally. In particular, they consider the idea of a ‘Fairtrade premium’, which is money paid on top of the minimum price for goods, which can be invested for environmental, social or economic development projects. There are nearly 1,200 certified Fairtrade producers across 74 different countries and 1.5 million Fairtrade farmers.