On May10th, Nick Nightingale, Campaign Coordinator for the Yorkshire Trade Justice Movement, did officially present the Mayor of Pickering, Cllr. Julie     Hepworth, with the Pickering Fairtrade Town certificate. The presentation will be at 11:00am in the WRVS Hall, Hungate, Pickering. This marks the climax of almost two years of work by the dedicated team of Pickering Fairtrade Town Group.

          The Group’s aim is to encourage   everyone to be aware of and buy Fairtrade products. They produce a leaflet, available in the Tourist Office, which shows where Fairtrade products are available locally. Any local business, church or community organisation committed to selling and/or serving Fairtrade goods can be listed in this directory. If you would like to be in it, ring 01751 473756.

          In conventional trade, farmers and  producers are usually paid the lowest   possible price, sometimes below production costs. With Fairtrade, production costs are always covered by a minimum guaranteed price. Producer communities also  receive a small premium towards business and social development. The Fairtrade mark on a product means that it has been independently certified to internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.

          The Pickering Fairtrade group meets regularly to plan events and activities, such as One World Week, Big Brew and Fairtrade Fortnight. We also visit local hotels, guest houses, shops and schools to inform and encourage them to support Fairtrade too.

          You are welcome to come to the   presentation on May 10th and to our AGM on October 6th at 7:30pm in the URC Hall, Hungate, Pickering. We will have a guest speaker, Jeremy Piercy, from Shared Earth.

 John Boardman.