Devon first achieved Fairtrade status on 8th October 2008. A certificate was recently presented to Devon declaring that the County had successfully renewed its Fairtrade status as of 17 March 2010. The certificate was signed by Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation! Congratulations and thank you to all those who have helped Devon maintain its Fairtrade status - see below for more details.

Devon played host to a senior Training Adviser of an organisation helping organic and Fairtrade producers in Mali during Fairtrade fortnight 2011. Click here for details.

Many are responsible for maintaining Devon's Fairtrade status. A BIG thank you goes to:

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.

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.
	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.
	The press, radio and TV in Devon must support the campaign.
	Schools and colleges, churches and other places of worship, can also join in the campaign.

Devon must reapply for Fairtrade status on a regular basis so we need your 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!