Fair Trade News - Heidi Errington

Cafe Direct is now the 6th largest coffee brand in the UK.

They pay a guaranteed price above the market rate and provide long term
investment in producer communities. In 2003 it invested 8% of gross profits
in programmes to support communities who produce its goods.

You can invest in cafe direct shares - TRIODOS can send you details:

www.triodos.co.uk
mail@triodos.co.uk
0500 008 720

Fair trade coffee as a whole now accounts for 18% of roast and ground coffee
in the UK.

Good News! CO-OP has pledged to double the size of its own brand fairtrade
products by the end of 2004.

People Tree source their organic fairtrade cotton in S. India. Free catalgue
available.

Intensive non organic cotton production is heavy on the pesticides and
farners often get into debt through pesticide purchase. There have also
been cases in India of suicides by pesticide when farmers get into financial
trouble.

Organic Fibres/Fairtrade

Greenfibres Mail Order
HUG
Soil Association provide a directory of companies, uk shops and outlets.

Equal Exchange Tea

http://www.equalexchange.co.uk -

They have a great NEWS section - current story on Darjeeling Tea Revival - a
good history of the tea, why it was dying out and how fair trade is helping
farmers to grow organic and save the tea plantations which had been
abandoned.

An excellent and very detailed article down to the last rupee on how fair
trade tea in India can work.

''Equal Exchange are the only Fairtrade certified brand picked and packed in
India. Packing at origin adds value and secures livelihood. We challenge
other brands to do the same!''

Did you know that you can invest in microfinance? TRIODOS bank operates the
FAIR SHARE FUND which provides finances for businesses in developing
countries.

www.triodos.co.uk
mail@triodos.co.uk
0500 008 720