Mellor Fairtrade

Mellor Parish Actively Supports Fair Trading Principles

Fairtrade in Mellor…and Beyond

Fairtrade products are becoming increasingly available and many of us buy such items whenever we can. The Fairtrade mark means that goods have passed rigorous certification and the buyer can be certain that the producer has received a fair price for his/her product. In addition to foodstuffs, it is now possible to buy a widening variety of clothing for adults and children; a large range of craft items…even footballs!

It is also important to raise awareness of Fairtrade. It is surprising how effective asking for Fairtrade coffee in a café can be…it is not necessary to provoke a lengthy debate; a simple request will suffice. You may not be the first - or last - and repeated requests have been known to result in future decisions to offer Fairtrade alternatives.

Stockport has a Pledge Scheme whereby stores which stock and sell Fairtrade products pledge to do so for 12 months in exchange for a certificate and window sticker advertising this fact. So, look out for the sign and consider shopping there. In Marple, the following shops have signed up so far:

  Toast Deli and Coffee Shop, Market Street
  Deli Select, Hollins Lane
  Marple Health Food Shop, 72 Stockport Road,
  Jestique, 130 Stockport Road

Stockport became a Fairtrade Borough in June 2003 and has maintained this status since - a demanding process based on the number of Fairtrade outlets as a proportion of the population. The local group has a website: www.stockport-fairtrade.org.uk Check it for details of local events.

New Mills became a Fairtrade Town on September 16th 2006. There are details of outlets at the following website: www.newmillsweb.com/fairtrade

Further information about Fairtrade in the UK is available from the Fairtrade Foundation, based in London. The website address is: www.fairtrade.org.uk

The Fairtrade issue is gaining momentum and we believe it is important to support it in as many ways as possible. It is also part of the wider, global movement to ‘MakePovertyHistory’, which is a vital goal for the world today.