A banana producer (The Fairtrade Foundation)
A Fair Trade Steering group was set up in October 2005. It first met in November 2005 and decide on the following objectives:
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To promote the concept of Fair Trade and increase the availability of Fair Trade products within Gateshead;
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To raise awareness of the FAIRTRADE Mark;
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To ensure continued commitment and drive towards gaining Fairtrade Borough Status for Gateshead, by achieving the five criteria of a Fairtrade Town as set out in the Fairtrade Foundation’s 'Fairtrade Town Goals and Action Guide', and to maintaining the accreditation once it has been achieved;
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To encourage workplaces, schools, colleges and churches to work to promote and use Fairtrade products.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the Group will:
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Organise special events for Fairtrade Fortnight in March each year;
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Be responsible for an annual assessment to monitor whether the area is meeting the five goals of a Fairtrade Town;
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Organise ongoing events to increase public awareness of and participation in Fairtrade and buying local products;
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Maintain a strong relationship with the local press and other media to ensure that the campaign retains a high profile.
Targets
To become a Fairtrade Borough we need to achieve several targets including:
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40 retails shops to sell 2 or more products;
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20 cafes or restaurants to sell 2 or more Fairtrade products.
In addition the Fair Trade Steering group would like to achieve the following targets:
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20 workplaces and 20 community organisations to use 2 or more Fairtrade products.
Progress
On 26 February 2007 there were 42 retail shops and 22 cafes and restaurants selling two or more Fairtrade products and 31 workplaces, 47 churches, 22 schools either use 2 or more Fairtrade products or support Fairtrade in some significant way.