DUNDEE FAIR TRADE FORUM
changing trade | changing lives
WHO ARE WE?
The Dundee Fair Trade Forum was established by the One World Centre in May 2002 to work towards Dundee becoming a Fairtrade City. Throughout its history, the Forum has worked alongside people from various sectors of the community; retailers, caterers, schools, the universities, the local authority, churches and community groups. It has run a wide variety of events in order to stimulate interest in Fair Trade and achieve the criteria for Fairtrade City status. This was declared in March 2004 and renewed in November 2005, March 2008 and November 2016.
Since September 2006, the Forum has been a separate organisation with its own constitution.
The Forum is open to all who share our passion for a fairer world trading system - you can join by contacting us.
If you would like to help us achieve our aims but don't have time to commit, why not make a financial commitment to keep us going by downloading our direct debit form and sending it to your bank?
OUR AIMS
The aim of the Forum is to work for justice, equality and sustainable development by:
- Raising awareness of international trade justice.
- Encouraging business, educational establishments to use Fairtrade products.
- Ensuring the criteria for a Fairtrade City continue to be met.
WHAT IS FAIRTRADE
Millions of families in the developing world don't get a fair share of the wealth created by their own skill and effort and the resources of their land. This is largely because of the way international trade is controlled by the rich countries. It is a system, which is both unjust, and a major cause of continuing poverty. Fair Trade is not about charity, but aims to give a fair deal to marginalised producers in the Global South.
In March 1994, the Fairtrade Foundation launched the FAIRTRADE MARK. The logo shows a person, hand held high, symbolising someone shouting about the importance of fair trade.
The Mark is an independent consumer label, awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation to products that meet a strict set of criteria, guaranteeing:
- Decent wages.
- A fair price.
- Credit terms.
- Worker Representation in trade union activities.
- Adequate living conditions and minimum health and safety standards.
- Good environmental standards.
The Fairtrade Foundation checks that products meet its standards before awarding the stamp of approval.
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum works to maintain Fair Trade nation Status for Scotland.
In order to achieve Fairtrade status, each Community has to fulfil five primary goals:
- The local council passes a resolution supporting Fairtrade and agrees to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in its office and canteens.
- A range of Fairtrade products are readily available in the area's shops. Fairtrade products are served in local cafes/catering establishments. It should be easy for local people to find Fairtrade products as they do their everyday shopping.
- Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community organisations.
- Media coverage and popular support for the campaign is attracted.
- A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensuure continued commitment to its Fairtrade Town status.
SCOTLAND'S FIRST FAIRTRADE CITY
On the 5th March 2004, Dundee was declared Scotland's first Fairtrade City. The accolade was achieved by the Dundee Fair Trade Forum and celebrated at a Civic Reception when Lord Provost John Letford was presented with the official certificate by local singer Sheena Wellington.
STEERING GROUP MEMBERSHIP
Dundee Fair Trade Forum is open to all who support its aims.
The following members form the Management Committee for 2020:
Councillor Bill Campbell - Dundee City Council representative
Richard McCready – Convener
Art McGuinness – Treasurer
Trudy Cunningham – University of Dundee
Sally Romilly - One World Centre
Fraser Macpherson – Dundee City Council
STOCKISTS
The range of products with the FAIRTRADE mark increases almost daily. In addition to tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, biscuits, nuts, wine, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, grapes, herbal teas, muesli, gold and a range of bakery products, there are now Fairtrade roses, footballs and most recently, organic cotton.
If you come across Fair Trade products when you're doing your shopping, or if you are an outlet selling them, please let us know! There is now a new webpage called FAIR TRADE FINDERS to let people know where they can make Fair Trade purchases.
WHOLESALE STOCKISTS
James Aimer Coffee roasters based in Dundee. Ground and instant coffee for catering and vending. Tea also available.
The Bean Shop Small family business based in Perth offering hand roasted coffee. Tea also available.
Equal Exchange Coffee, chocolate, sugar and cocoa. Includes organic and single estate coffee, and the ‘Coffee Grown by Women’ range.
Greencity Wholefoods Workers' Co-operative based in Glasgow offering a wide range of drinks and foodstuffs.
Just Trading Scotland Social enterprise based in Paisley specialising in Kilombero rice from Malawi. Jams, sauces and condiments also available.
Matthew Algie & Company Based in Glasgow and offering coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks.
Traidcraft Exclusively Fairtrade supplier based in Gateshead. Extensive range of food and drink products delivered to workplaces across the UK.
Caber Coffee Based in Aberdeen and offering tea, coffee, hospitality sachets and machines.
Fairtrade Vending Vending machines supplying a range of coffee and other products with the FAIRTRADE Mark.
Coffee Conscience Renfrewshire based tea & coffee supplier, roasting Fairtrade coffee in Dundee.
All these wholesalers and further information for cafes and restaurants can be seen on our leaflet.
Further information on stockists locally and nationally can be found here.
NEWS AND EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS:
The pandemic has given us all time to reflect on the world we would like to see, and shown just how connected we are as a global community. The choices we make here in Scotland affect the world. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges ahead of us, but there are choices you can make every day to create a better world for all. One of these is choosing to buy Fairtrade products, which provide support against the worst effects of climate change, and help to reduce poverty amongst Fairtrade farmers. Another is choosing to learn about these issues and engaging in discussions. There are lots of great ideas and resources to engage children and young people on the Fairtrade Foundation's school page.
Teachers can also join our CLPL sessions –
Thursday 12th May - A Fair Climate: Linking Trade and Climate Justice in the Classroom Tickets, Thu 12 May 2022 at 16:00 | Eventbrite.
Tuesday 24th May - The 90kg Rice Challenge Tickets, Tue 24 May 2022 at 16:00 | Eventbrite
PREVIOUS EVENTS:
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 2022
We had great plans for Fairtrade Fortnight but unfortunately, due to Covid, these didn’t quite come off! But Dundee University managed to celebrate in style with their Fairtrade coffee cart, from which they gave out Fairtrade chocolate, tea and coffee (from Coffee Conscience). They also organised a free giveaway of a delicious Fairtrade rice and chickpea curry, using amazing products from JTS and the culinary skills of Campus Catering. The Top of the Tower café was selling half price Fairtrade goodies all fortnight, and DUSA Premier shop held a raffle to win a Fairtrade hoodie!
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT CELEBRATION
On Wed 26th February, we hosted an evening of talks to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight at Birchwood Food Emporium & Cafe. The event kicked off with a welcome from the Lord Provost, who spoke proudly of Dundee as Scotland's first Fairtrade City. We then had a fascinating talk by Billy Miller of Coffee Conscience, with good old-fashioned visual aids ably provided by his son, Lewis! Billy has seen the benefits of Fairtrade to coffee farmers first hand, and spoke passionately about his company's commitment to the Fairtrade system. Ian Alexander of Birchwood then described why his business supports Fairtrade, and how it complements good quality local produce. The event concluded with the Dundee Fair Trade AGM.
SUGAR FARMER VISIT
We were very fortunate on Tues 3rd March to have a visit from sugar farmers Aubrey Meki Chilenje and Nduzani Zaya, representing the Kasinthula Cane Growers' Association in Malawi. They arrived by train from Edinburgh to a beautiful sunny Dundee welcome! After a photoshoot by the V&A and the Discovery, we travelled up to Morgan Academy, where Aubrey and Nduzani delivered talks at two assemblies to the whole of S1. The young people asked some really good questions, and even learned a wee bit of Chichewa!
DUNDEE FAIRTRADE CITY STATUS RENEWED
In March 2020 we received a certificate from the Fairtrade Foundation renewing our Fairtrade City status for Dundee for a further two years. This is in recognition of the work we've been doing to promote Fairtrade to the city's cafes, restaurants, offices, universities and schools, and our presence at events such as the Dundee Flower & Food Festival. We are always interested in working with new businesses and groups, so if you would like to know more, please get in touch,
