Devon achieved Fairtrade status on 8th October 2008 awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation! Congratulations and thank you to all those who helped Devon achieve Fairtrade status - see below for more details.

"All Creatures Great and Small" star to launch Fairtrade olive tree project in Devon and Palestine. Click here for details.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 in Devon was a roaring success! Click here for details.

A BIG thank you to all those who helped Devon achieve Fairtrade status:

Every shopper who buys and uses Fairtrade products
Every retailer and shopkeeper who stocks Fairtrade goods for sale
Every café owner and restaurateur who
provides Fairtrade products to their customers
Every employer and business who provide Fairtrade tea and coffee for their staff and clients
Every farm shop which also stocks Fairtrade as well as local produce
Every community, faith and political group which has campaigned for Fairtrade
Every hotel and B&B who select Fairtrade goods for their guests
Every school working towards the Fairtrade Schools Award

Click here for a celebratory poster that you can proudly display!

What is Fairtrade?
Millions of farmers and their families depend on selling crops to survive. If prices fall, they can face real hardship. Fairtrade makes sure that farmers and producer organisations are paid a fair and stable price for their products. They also receive a 'Social Premium' to invest in a better future for their community, by building a nursery school, a well or clinic. There are over 2000 Fairtrade certified products in the UK from tea to fresh fruit, cotton to sports balls. You can find out more here.

Why have we campaigned for Fairtrade in Devon?
We want to make sure everyone in Devon knows about Fairtrade and wants to support it, so when they go shopping, they choose Fairtrade products. We think it's only fair that the people who work hard to produce what we eat, wear and use should be paid enough to live on and a chance to improve their lives.

How did Devon achieve Fairtrade status?
There are 5 goals set by Fairtrade Foundation which any County must achieve to be awarded Fairtrade status:

	Devon County Council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens. Done! Nov 2007.
	Fairtrade products must be readily available in shops in Devon and served in local cafés and catering establishments. Exeter and several Devon towns have already earned the Fairtrade Award.
	Businesses and employers in Devon must use Fairtrade products and tell their employees why! The Met Office and South West Water are leading the way!
	A Fairtrade Devon Steering Group must co-ordinate the work. Set up September 2007.
	The press, radio and TV in Devon must support the campaign.
	Schools and colleges, churches and other places of worship, can also join in campaign.

We have to reapply in October 2009 – so please don’t stop now! Can you help? Can you find out if your town, school, place of worship, employer, local cafes and shops have signed up to Fairtrade. If not, please ask them why not!