Judith Cochrane MLA said: “The Fairtrade campaign has made a real difference in the 20 years that its products have been on UK shelves. It has given reassurance to consumers that workers who have produced the items that bear the Fairtrade mark have received a fair wage and were not subject to inhumane working conditions.
“It has also given small producers the ability to compete against the big corporations which has helped the economies of developing nations.
“Individual members of the public can play their part in protecting workers’ rights around the world by buying fairtrade products.
“Fairtrade fortnight is an opportunity to highlight the merits of buying Fairtrade products and I would urge people to look out for the Fairtrade mark and do their bit in helping producers around the world receive a fair price for their goods.”
ENDS