London - The World's Biggest Fairtrade City‏

Image via WikipediaLondon has officially become the world's largest Fairtrade city, after more than a thousand businesses agreed to sell fairly traded goods.

Roughly 1,000 retailers and 600 catering outlets, including the Houses of Parliament, London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, museums and the Bank of England, sell items carrying the Fairtrade logo. Due to this, the city of London was recently awarded Fairtrade status.

London Mayor Boris Johnson is said to be glad about the announcement, calling it "super" and acknowledging that it means "Londoners want their products to be Fairtrade and to make a significant difference to the lives of the farmers and workers in the developing world."

He noted that 20 of London's boroughs have Fairtrade status. In order to be granted Fairtrade status, companies must ensure that all those involved in the production process receive a decent price for their efforts or produce. The Fairtrade Foundation tries to ensure that marginalised producers in developing countries get a better deal.

There are five guarantees behind the Fairtrade logo; guaranteeing farmers a fair and stable price for their produce, extra income for farmers and estate workers, a greater respect for the environment, giving small farmers a stronger position in world markets, and to close the gap between producers and consumers.

London is the 400th of the UK's towns and cities to be awarded Fairtrade status, demonstrating the UK's progressive views on developing nations and agricultural workers.

Universities, schools and some churches have also embraced the campaign and have agreed to increase their participation in fair traded goods. London seems to be keener than ever for Fairtrade goods, and The Fairtrade London Steering Committee has said that it believes the accomplishment makes London the world's Fairtrade capital, or at least the biggest Fairtrade city in the world.

So Londoners will not have to go too far to buy the Fairtrade products they desire. London has sent a strong message that they want trade to be fairer, and as the biggest Fairtrade city in the world, London can be seen as an ambassador for Fairtrade products everywhere.

Garstang in Lancashire was the first town in the UK to become Fairtrade, with local residents voting almost unanimously in favour of the move at a local meeting in 2000. Local enthusiasts have received MBEs for their efforts in promoting Fairtrade as a consumer solution to world poverty.

Cafedirect is the UK's largest 100% Fairtrade hot drinks company, with a team of experts in tea, coffee, sustainable development, climate change, social enterprise, and responsible supply chain management.

http://www.cafedirect.co.uk/