From chocolate to cheeses, tomatoes to tinned pineapples, a large amount of the foods that are staples of our diet In the United Kingdom are grown elsewhere on the planet. In truth, we are entirely reliant on food grown all over the world, and there is no reason to think that this is such a bad thing. Dieticians and medics agree that a rich and varied diet is massively important to health and wellbeing, and access to foods from around the globe can keep us fit, healthy and happy, especially when it gives us access to fresh fruit and other seasonal foods when it would be hard to get here. Culturally the international trade of food is also important, access to different types of foods is one of the ways we break down barriers between different peoples on the planet.
Unfortunately though, there are some downsides to the international food markets. Farmers and producers are often paid unfairly for their products with large companies taking the profits for their hard work, meaning that sometimes whole communities struggle in poverty to make the foods that we consider to be basic staples like tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas.
What is fairtrade?
As consumers, we should not want people to suffer for the foods we want, and there is no reason why they have to. Fairtrade foods is an international certification for foods led by the Fairtrade Foundation that ensures consumers can choose to buy products that promise to pay a fair price for the ingredients from farmers around the world. Fairtrade foods can be recognized by the green, blue and black logo on the packaging and amazingly one study found that 83% of UK shoppers trust the logo and use it to make sure they are buying fairtrade foods.
Why buy fairtrade?
When it comes to food, it really is a buyers' market, and as consumers we have the power to choose what we eat and where it comes from. Buying fairtrade foods and choosing to avoid non-fairtrade foods supports those companies and producers who are committed to paying a fair price for the ingredients in their products. When consumers choose to buy fairtrade foods it encourages better buying and better ethics across the whole marketplace which in turn will encourage more fairtrade foods to the shelves.
Fairtrade foods not only help the farmers, but also ensure a certain quality of production. Fairtrade foods are using their influence to encourage climate friendly farming techniques and reduced pollution. There are over 1.66 million farmers and workers in 1,411 producer organisations across the fairtrade foods network, and this can be a massive engine for change in the communities and eco-systems where the food we enjoy is produced.
Where to buy Fairtrade locally
To get the very best range of fairtrade foods in the Liverpool area, visit Windmill Wholefoods, the very best local supplier of organic, eco-friendly and fairtrade foods. For opening times and more information visit their website here. There has never been a better time to choose fairtrade foods!
