The Palestinian Fair Trade Producers Company (PFTPC) President Mahmoud Issa, the UK’s International Development Minister Michael Foster, the Fairtrade Foundation’s CEO Harriet Lamb, and representatives from the Cooperative, Equal Exchange and Zaytoun hosted a media conference at a Cooperative store. This event generated significant media attention.

PFTPC has been Fairtrade certified since January and is the first cooperative to be certified for olive oil.  PFTPC is made up of 8 smaller cooperatives, with a total of 293 members, and is based in Jenin Area, West Bank.  The organization would like to help bring more Palestinian producer coops into the Fairtrade system, including women’s cooperatives.  They also anticipate expanding their own relationship with Fairtrade to include certification of secondary crops, such as almonds and sesame.

On a recent visit to the FLO offices, Luis Ruiz Diaz, President of Cooperativa Manduvirá, spoke about the improvements his Paraguayan sugar cooperative has been able to achieve through Fairtrade.  Since 2004 they have exported their sugar directly and brought in a much higher income; they hope to soon do their own processing.  Manduvirá distributes half of the Fairtrade Premium money it receives directly to its members to invest in their farms and households.  The remaining income is spent on social and economic projects for the cooperative, including a medical and dental health care clinic, school kits, farm machinery and diversification, as well as loans and training for members.

FLO’s CEO Rob Cameron and the African Fairtrade Network Chair and FLO Board Member Yorokamu Abainenamar also gave speeches. The event was attended by 240 people, including Fairtrade licensee companies and retailers, NGO partners, and members of the public.  As part of the ceremony, Finland celebrated its 4^th and largest Fairtrade City.  The theme for the anniversary year is "Wellbeing Near and Far". This theme will be used to highlight four main themes: Fairtrade and the environment, community, local production, and health.

Video footage of the event, including speeches in English by Yorokamu Abainenamar and Rob Cameron, is available at: www.reilukauppa.fi/?380

Throughout the country, volunteers braved the rain to hand out Fairtrade roses and postcards to the delight of women passing by.  The postcard featured Penninah Njambi from Pandaroses in Kenya and her message to consumers: "Fairtrade is very important for us, because now we can look ahead to the future."  Several prominent women were also presented bouquets of Fairtrade roses, including the Mayor of Bonn, where the FLO offices are located.

OJRPG’s 617 members produce only high-quality organic Jasmine Paddy rice.  The organization has been Fairtrade certified since 2002 and is growing rapidly, more than doubling the number of its members since 2006.  The farmers are spread through 200 villages in one of the country’s poorer regions in northeast Thailand.  The furthest village is about two hours by car from the OJRPG offices in Trakarnphutphon city.  Through Fairtrade, OJRPG has invested in its own office facilities and has hired two full-time office support staff.  It has also set up a fund to disperse group loans for farming improvements, including the purchase of cattle, leveling rice land, etc.  OJRPG’s long-term vision is to be fully self-reliant and do their own marketing.

The ILO (International Labour Organization) is now serving Fairtrade certified coffee, which will be enjoyed by the 2000 staff members at their headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.  More than 140 Coop restaurants in Switzerland have begun serving exclusively Fairtrade certified rice to their customers.  The restaurants already offer Fairtrade coffee, honey and orange juice.  All youth hostels in Switzerland have begun serving a wide range of Fairtrade products, including coffee, tea, orange juice, rice and sugar.

The event was hosted by television personality Barbara van Melle and included a fashion show with clothing made from Fairtrade cotton.  Alex Assanvo, FLO’s Regional Manager for North, East and West Africa, was interviewed about Fairtrade and its benefits in Africa.  Three hundred guests attended and the event generated significant media attention.

To view photos, click here.

The Fair will take place October 2-4th in Lyon, France.  Fairtrade Labelling will be represented at the Fair by FLO and Max Havelaar France.  There are 300 exhibitors and 20 000 visitors expected to attend.  For more information, including how to volunteer for this event, please visit: www.european-fair-trade-fair.org