West Lothian Council is supporting Fairtrade Fortnight to help ensure producers in the developing world getting a fair deal.
Fairtrade Fortnight - running from Monday, February 27 to Sunday 12 March- is this year highlighting the urgent threat to the future of the foods we love and the livelihoods of the people who grow them, as they face the worst effects of the climate crisis.
Without our support for fairer prices today, farmers will find it even harder to tackle the climate and economic challenges of the future.
West Lothian is a Fairtrade zone, with groups running in a number of towns and villages across the area.
A number of local Events are taking place in the lead up to, and during, Fairtrade Fortnight.
Linlithgow Fair Trade Partnership are running a Fairtrade wine & Scottish food pairing experience on the evenings of 24 and 25 February in Queen Margaret Hall. To book, please visit: https://www.localwineschool.com/edinburgh/fairtrade-fortnight-wine-tasting/
Linlithgow Fair Trade Partnership are also hosting a free tea & coffee morning on Saturday 4 March in Cross House from 10 -12. As an extra, there will also be a tea-tasting experience, with commentary and tasting notes, from 11.00 -11.30. It’s free but tea-tasting places are limited and booking is essential - book your ticket through Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fairtrade-tea-tasting-event-tickets-521045610447
On Saturday,February 25 , there will be a Big Brew and Swish at West Kirk of Calder Hall, West End, West Calder from 10.00am till 12 noon. A Big Brew is just another name for a coffee morning and a Swish is like a ‘bring and buy’ event for clothes. Clothing can be dropped off any time from 9.15am. Although two days early, this is a Fairtrade Fortnight event for Fauldhouse and Breich Valley.
Other planned events include a Fairtrade Coffee Morning at Whitburn Partnership Centre - Thursday 2 March 11am – 12.30pm
In the Livingston area, a Fairtrade Swish and Big Brew event will be held on Saturday 11 March, Livingston United Church. Attendees are encouraged, if possible, to please bring 2-3 items of good clean clothing that you wish you hadn’t bought or no longer want.
The event runs from 10.00am till 12 noon but goods may be brought from 9.15am and left with a helper at the entrance. Donations of baked items are welcome but all should contain, at least, one ingredient from a Fairtrade source.
Meanwhile plans from the Scottish Fairtrade Forum can be found on their website: https://www.scottishfairtradeforum.org.uk/news/fairtrade-fortnight-2023/
Executive councillor for the environment Tom Conn said: “There’s never been a more important time to support producers in the developing world through buying Fairtrade.
“The last few years have certainly altered buying habits for many, but we can still make the decision to purchase Fairtrade products where we can.”
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