All fair for traders

By Paul Pickering
BELGRAVE has become the Victorian epicentre of the fair trade revolution, with a group of local traders hosting the state’s biggest Fair Trade Fortnight event.
Since Saturday, 28 April, shoppers at six Belgrave stores have been invited to make a gold coin donation to participate in a Guess the Coffee Beans in the Jar competition.
The proceeds of the competition will go towards the Build a Fair Trade House project which provides temporary housing and a means of income for Indonesian residents affected by recent earthquakes.
Belgrave’s Fair Trade Fortnight event is aimed at encouraging people to purchase products adorned with the Fair Trade label in a bid to guarantee a better deal for Third World producers.
“Simply making small changes in the way we shop or eat allows other people to make changes towards a better way of life,” said Neil Bowker from Fair Trade Association of Australian and New Zealand.
Jane Thomas, who is the owner of fair trade food and handicraft store Local and Global, has not been surprised by the amount of local support shown for the event.
“Belgrave has a greater concentration of Fair Trade businesses than probably any other suburb in Melbourne,” she said. Ms Thomas is excited to be celebrating International Fair Trade Day on Saturday, 12 May in conjunction with the store’s first birthday party.
From 10am to 2.30pm, shoppers will be able to sample fair trade tea and coffee products at her store while being entertained by live music.
Fellow main street traders Earthly Pleasures Café, Ample, Queen of Tarts and Savvy Pizza will celebrate by featuring special menus utilising fair trade ingredients.
Fair Trade Fortnight will conclude on Sunday, 13 May, with traders awarding separate prizes for each of their competition winners.