Fairtrade Fortnight

Our farmers feed the world. They are up before dawn and work till well after sunset. They face any number of challenges they can’t control, from too much rain to not enough, from disease to insect infestations.

Luther Strange

Farmers are the people that have helped move and shape the world around us. However, in today’s modern society, many don’t recognize the importance that farmers have in maintaining the world’s food supply and many times get the least benefits for everyone else’s need for consumerism.

Fairtrade Fortnight is a holiday based in the United Kingdom that aims to bring awareness to the food situation globally and hopes to give back to the farmers that get taken advantage of the most.

History of Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight was launched in 1997 at the Augustine United Church on the George IV Bridge by Lady Marion Fraser, chair of Christian Aid. The commemorate the first day of the new holiday, she broke a bar of Fairtrade chocolate to launch the event.

Since then, it has been a highly successful campaign, annually hosted by the Fairtrade organization. The Fairtrade organization is a UK-based charity that works on empowering producers and farmers in developing countries in order to tackle the injustices in trade and make the lives of these farmers better for everyone.

Throughout the holiday, thousands of people across the UK come together to celebrate the people who grow our food and aim to help those who are deeply exploited by the global economic system.

Fairtrade, as a charity organization, encourages people to donate on this day and help raise awareness of the injustices of the trade system. According to their website, many farmers go without enough food to feed their families because of the intense demand of developed countries such as the United Kingdom.

As a result, the goal of Fairtrade Fortnight is to convince people that they have the potential to improve the lives of farmers and workers everywhere.

How to Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight

Celebrate this charitable holiday by signing a petition to reduce the amount of poverty present in the countries that developed one’s trade with. Host a Fairtrade event using their online resources.

Purchase ethically produced foods from your local supermarkets that are recognized with the Fairtrade symbol on it. Host a fundraiser at your local community center in hopes of donations.

Share this holiday on social media using the hashtag #FairtradeFortnight and let your friends know that this is the time to care about where your food comes from and give back.