Stourbridge Fairtrade is inviting people to attend a live event and online festival this Fairtrade Fortnight which runs from 21 February to 6 March.

Stourbridge Fairtrade Group will be hosting their event at St Thomas’s Church Hall on Saturday 5 March from 10am to 1.30pm to show people the range of ways they can create the Fair world they want.

Local organisations sharing Fairtrade’s environmental concerns - including Friends of the Earth and the Repair Café – will be taking part with displays, Traidcraft foods for sale, activities for children and Fairtrade refreshments to enjoy. Jane Williamson from Stourbridge Fairtrade said:

"We can all choose to make a difference to the fortunes of farmers and producers around the world by choosing products and food bearing the Fairtrade Mark. Fairtrade Standards encourage producers to protect the environment by improving soil, planting trees, conserving water and avoiding pesticides.

"At the same time, Fairtrade makes training available to producers so that they can use the latest agricultural methods, such as intercropping and shade-grown coffee to adapt to climate change."

In our local shops, online or wherever you shop please look out for the logo on tea, coffee, chocolate, wine, spices, sugar, flowers and other items.

Dudley’s other Fairtrade Town, Sedgley will be running a coffee morning at the community Centre on Sat 19 February from 10am until 12pm organised by Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative. There will be Fairtrade stalls, refreshments and a raffle.

The national Fairtrade Foundation website is full of information about the Choose the World You Want Festival featuring panel discussions, performances, workshops and collaborations between the Fairtrade Foundation and retailers, chefs and high-profile names in the world of food and sustainability.

For people who can’t attend the coffee mornings in Stourbridge and Sedgley, information and ideas about how people can help make a difference can be found at the online event at fairtrade.org.uk.