Carmarthenshire on target for Fairtrade status - 08/08/07

Carmarthenshire County Council has decided to support the initiative to gain Fairtrade county status for Carmarthenshire. Thanking the Council for its support Plaid Cymru Cllr Fioled Jones, a member of the steering committee, said this week:

"This is just the first step, but now that the Council has agreed to support the initiative, we can proceed with confidence to do the hard work required."

"The Council has committed itself to serve Fairtrade tea and coffee at its meetings  and in its offices and canteens, and to promote awareness among the public county wide. Schools need to be aware of and promote Fairtrade too."

"The aim is to have at least 35 shops buying in to the scheme as well as at least  17 restaurants and hotels. Goods in the scheme include in addition to tea and coffee, chocolate, honey, sugar, bananas, fruit juice as well as clothes."

"All Fairtrade goods are labelled with the Fairtrade logo. There is a huge promotion and public education required. We therefore appeal for public support to buy Fairtrade goods and also to urge retailers to stock them. The steering group are particularly looking for volunteers to help to promote Fairtrade in Llanelli."