To mark the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, Co-Chair of the All Party Group on Fairtrade Holly Lynch attended a celebratory event in Parliament this week.

The event, sponsored by Co-op, gave MPs from across the political spectrum the chance to show their support for Fairtrade, chat to supporters and campaigners, hear the stories of Fairtrade producers and sample some delicious Fairtrade produce.

Parliamentarians also got the chance to pose for photographs with Fairtrade Ambassador Nick Hewer, famous for his roles on Countdown and The Apprentice.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2018 will challenge the British public to open their doors to Fairtrade and help close the door on the exploitation facing the people who produce the things we love to eat, drink, and wear.

The nationwide campaign ‘Come On In’ runs from Monday 26 February until Sunday 11 March and will invite the public to come in to the world of the people who grow our food to see what life can be like when farmers and workers aren’t paid fairly.

Thousands of events will be taking place around the country including breakfasts, breaks, bake-offs and more as people ‘come on in’ and find out more about Fairtrade. There will be a series of events at the Piece Hall, Halifax, on 3rd March run by the Halifax Fairtrade Group and Holly.

The campaign will explore how businesses, farmers, workers and shoppers can come together through Fairtrade to change this.

Holly said:

“There was amazing support for Fairtrade Fortnight in Westminster this week. I want to thank Greggs and the Coop for supporting the Fairtrade APPG event and special thanks to Fairtrade champion Nick Hewer.”

Cheryl McGechie, Director of Public Engagement, The Fairtrade Foundation said:

“This Fairtrade Fortnight, we are inviting people to ‘come on in’ to see what Fairtrade does for farmers and see what exploitation looks like when trade doesn’t deliver.

“There has never been a better time to stand alongside the people who produce the products we love to eat, drink and wear. People who often do not earn enough to feed or provide for their own families.

“This unfairness must end. By buying Fairtrade you are guaranteeing farmers a fairer price for their efforts. This Fairtrade Fortnight come on into Fairtrade.”