Fairtrade is good.

In fact it’s better than good;

it is changing the lives of people all over the world who are struggling to provide for their families in the face of low commodity prices and unfair international trade rules. But it’s also a bit complicated, so here’s a brief summing up of what it’s really all about.

World prices for commodities such as coffee, sugar and cocoa are highly volatile and often remain well below the levels which small farmers in developing countries need in order to earn a basic living. Fairtrade producers receive a guaranteed fair and stable price to which enables them to improve their lives and the environment in which they and their families live and work.

So just to be clear – when you drink a bottle of Herbert’s (or buy any other product with the FAIRTRADE Mark) don’t think that a fixed percentage of what you pay goes back to help farmers in developing companies. It doesn’t work like that. Instead, the people who have grown the ingredients or materials used in the Fairtrade product will have received a fair and stable price for their goods with an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in projects that benefit their families and communities.

Here are five useful facts about Fairtrade in the UK:

• Purchases of Fairtrade products by UK consumers came to £195 million in 2005, an increase of 38% over 2004

• 52% of the UK public recognize the FAIRTRADE Mark

• Over 2,000 products licensed by the Fairtrade Foundation

• Over 10m households in the UK purchased one or more Fairtrade products in 2005

• Over 300 producer groups now sell to the UK Fairtrade market

For further information on Fairtrade, please visit www.fairtrade.org.uk