What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
The Fairtrade minimum price is the minimum price that a buyer of Fairtrade products has to pay to a Producer Organisation for their product. It is not a fixed price, but should be seen as the lowest possible starting point for price negotiations between producer and purchaser.
It is set at a level which ensures that Producer Organisations receive a price which covers the cost of sustainable production for their product. This means it also acts as a safety net for farmers at times when world markets fall below a sustainable level. However, when the market price is higher than the Fairtrade minimum, the buyer must pay the market price.
Producers and traders can also negotiate a higher price, for example on the basis of quality, and for some products, FLO also sets different prices for organic crops, or for particular grades of produce.
What the Council is Doing
Eastbourne Borough Council unaminously passed a motion supporting Fairtrade in Eastbourne in 2007.
The council acknowledges the increasing numbers of retail outlets, churches, schools, businesses and others supporting and promoting Fairtrade in the town and welcomes the Fairtrade movement as a positive response to providing sustainable economic development and awareness within our present consumer culture.
As part of this Council’s own commitment to Fairtrade, it undertakes to:
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Continue to provide Fairtrade tea and coffee in all its outlets.
- Continue to exclusively provide Fairtrade tea and coffee at all its internal meetings.
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Work at elected member level with the local campaign group ‘Fairtrade Eastbourne’ in activities to promote the FAIRTRADE Mark.
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Using current links and resources, encourage Eastbourne businesses to provide Fairtrade products to their staff and customers.
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Promote the Fairtrade Town initiative in internal communications and external newsletters.
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Support where practicable events and publicity to promote Fairtrade Fortnight - the annual national campaign to promote sales of products with the FAIRTRADE Mark.
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Provide funds to celebrate the achievement of the Fairtrade Town Award when achieved, budgetary constraints allowing.
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Allow a weblink from the Council’s website to the Fairtrade Eastbourne website.
How to Get Involved
Fairtrade Eastbourne reaches out to the community, including businesses, schools, shoppers, churches, organisations and other campaign groups community, to boost awareness of Fairtrade and its aims.
They want to see more Fairtrade products available and want a genuine demand for Fairtrade locally.
They are campaigning to make Eastbourne a Fairtrade Town and have put on different events across the town to promote Fairtrade.
For more information, visit the Fairtrade Eastbourne website.
