Fairtrade in Suffolk

There is a strong interest in Fair Trade in Suffolk. The empathy is natural. After all, unlike city dwellers, Suffolk people have stayed close to their own agriculture, trades, and crafts, and all the people involved in those activities. So they know first hand what is involved in the production process – and so they respect and value the work.

Fair Trade is about respecting the work of farmers, labourers and craftspeople worldwide, and enjoying produce from developing countries that is free of exploitation. To this end, local groups have been active in Fair Trade in Suffolk, spreading the word, helping people to learn about it, showcasing Fair Trade homewares and crafts, and letting the public sample delicious fairly traded edibles.

Fairtrade Town is an official title awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation to towns, cities, villages or boroughs that have met certain criteria regarding the use and awareness of Fairtrade. Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds are both - hopefully - shortly to become Fair Trade Towns. In the meantime Fairtrade For Woodbridge, a voluntary group of people living in or near Woodbridge, formed in 2004, to increase awareness of Fairtrade and work to make Woodbridge a Fairtrade Town. In February 2008 they succeeded in achieving the Fairtrade Town status for Woodbridge. For more information about their work and future fairtrade events in the area please see - FairTradeforWoodbridge.

For more information on Woodbridge - see Woodbridge.

Year by year the product range of Fair Trade in Suffolk grows. A considerable contribution is being made by independent and family run businesses. Bury St Edmunds has a fair trade shop and Cafe in St John's Church, St John's Lane (Just Trade, Bury St Edmunds) and Ipswich also has a Fair Trade florist and Fair Trade shop, Evolution, selling very funky stuff!

Also check out the eco-friendly and Fair Trade gifts and homeware from Green Eyed Frog, Stowmarket and the fantastic items for sale from Evolution, Ipswich, who buy over three quarters of their goods direct from developing countries and small suppliers.

The numerous branches of the Co-op in Suffolk are a great place to head for a good variety of Fair Trade cakes, chocolate, coffee, rum, sugar, tea, muesli, beer and wine. The other leading food retailers also stock Fair Trade bananas, clementines, coffee, honey, mangos, oranges, pineapples and tea.

So when you’re shopping for ingredients for your picnic, or for your evening meal, or considering buying something for your home, there are opportunities for you to include Fair Trade produce in your Suffolk shopping basket. Good news!

Please also see our Shoppers' Guide to Suffolk.