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Consumers have remained loyal to buying goods accredited
by the Fairtrade charity despite the economic slowdown,
figures revealed.
Fairtrade help tackle poverty in developing countries
and its goods are becoming increasingly popular with
shoppers as a 55% increase in sales proves.
Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade
Foundation, said: "This continuing uplift in sales is
great news and shows the public is still taking
Fairtrade to heart.
"Every day in shops up and down the country consumers
are becoming the champions of change. Times are tough
for everyone, but producers need Fairtrade now more than
ever.
"In Kenya recently, a farmer told me that a bag of maize
had increased by 100%. On top of this, farmers are
struggling to pay soaring fuel and fertiliser costs.
"Fairtrade offers people a ladder out of poverty,
helping farmers themselves work towards achieving the
Millennium Development Goals. Business needs to play its
part in offering farmers a market in the UK, so opening
the way for more farmers to sell their goods on fairer
terms."
The Fairtrade Foundation's annual conference Tipping the
Balance announced that trade grew for April to June 2008
to an estimated ?176 million from ?113 million in the
same period last year.
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