This Fair Trade Fortnight (May 7 -22) thousands of Kiwis will take part in Oxfam’s Biggest Coffee Break – a nationwide Oxfam event, aimed at raising awareness of Fairtrade and raising funds for Oxfam’s work towards a just world without poverty.
Oxfam is expecting more than 30,000 people to take part in over 1200 Coffee Breaks in workplaces, homes and schools around the country throughout the fortnight. Coffee Break hosts will introduce their guests to the benefits of Fairtrade and treat them to delicious Fairtrade products including Caffe L’affare coffee, Kokako drinking chocolate, and Whittaker’s chocolate. In doing so, they will be spreading the word about how the Fairtrade system is helping millions of coffee and cocoa farmers work their way out of poverty, and supporting Oxfam’s work towards a safer, fairer and more sustainable world.
“Fair trade works. It offers the millions of farmers in developing countries a solution to help work their way out of poverty,” said Oxfam New Zealand Executive Director Barry Coates.
“As consumers we have a very powerful voice – we can influence change simply with the way we shop. Changing to Fairtrade coffee is an easy way for New Zealanders to become a part of this solution. Kiwis are catching onto this, seeing the real difference that Fairtrade does make.”
Millions of farmers in over 60 developing countries are dependent on the coffee, tea and cocoa industries, but struggle to support their families. A growing number of farmers are working their way out of poverty by selling to the Fairtrade market.
Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for farmers and producers in the developing world by ensuring farmers are paid a fair and stable price for their coffee. In addition, money earned through the Faitrade premium is invested back into the community to improve health care, education and roads as well as basic infrastructure such as access to clean water and sanitation.
A wide range of Fairtrade products are available in New Zealand, from coffee and chocolate, to spices and sports balls. New Zealand continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing markets for Fairtrade certified products, with sales more than doubling to $36.6 million last year.
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Editors’ notes
Fairtrade ensures that producers in developing countries get a fair deal through:
- A fair and stable price for their product
- Long-term trading relations and advance payments
- A premium investment in local community development
- Environmentally sustainable farming methods
- Support in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to operate successfully in the global economy
