The Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group has organised a series of events which started at the weekend with a breakfast and presentation and continues with a quiz this coming Saturday and a free speaker event next Wednesday evening at the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts in partnership with Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission and Guernsey for Freedom.

This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight is telling the stories of the farmers behind the £4billion UK chocolate industry.

Fairtrade’s She Deserves campaign highlights research on the cocoa sector in West Africa, where 60% of the world’s cocoa is grown, revealing the average farmer lives on as little as 74p per day and despite carrying out much of the farming needed to produce cocoa, women earn even less. This is well below the extreme poverty line of $1.90 (about £1.40) per day. This Fairtrade Fortnight campaigners are sharing stories far and wide so chocolate lovers know what is behind their bar to equip all of us to make choices that can change cocoa farmers’ stories for the better.

Hannah Davis, Secretary of the Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group, said:

“Fairtrade already enjoys a great level of awareness and support amongst consumers, businesses and community organisations on the island. This year we want to introduce people to the individuals behind the products and demonstrate the difference that Fairtrade makes to them. We are running a Fairtrade story writing competition for primary schools, encouraging students to imagine life as a Fairtrade farmer. We are holding a children’s activity morning in the library where the winning stories will be read out. And we will be hiding producer stories in public places for people to find, as well as reading some of these on the radio.

“Sometimes the sheer distances travelled by our food, drink and clothes before they reach us make it difficult to picture the conditions in which they were grown and made. Hopefully these stories will help to shrink those distances and bring consumers and producers closer.” 

Adam Gardner, Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation, said:

“We are a nation of chocoholics but few of us would stomach the bitter taste behind the sweet delight of chocolate if we knew about the exploitation that faces the majority of cocoa farmers.

“But farmers get a sweeter deal with Fairtrade. We are fighting for living incomes for both men and women so that communities can flourish. When you Choose Fairtrade chocolate it means farmers get a fairer price for their cocoa, can invest in their farms, their villages and their children’s futures. This Fairtrade Fortnight, hear incredible stories from cocoa farmers and other inspirational speakers - in your community and online - and join us to help write a sweeter next chapter for so many cocoa farmers who deserve Fairtrade.”