Event promotes giving Third World farmers a sweeter deal (From Swindon Advertiser)

Highworth cake festival promotes giving Third World farmers a sweeter deal

12:50pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News

SHOPPERS in Highworth enjoyed a taste of Fairtrade products during a special cake festival held at the town council offices, in Gilberts Lane, on Saturday.

The Highworth Action for Fairtrade group put on the event, held on the town’s market day, to show what can be done with such ethically-sourced products as part of the annual Fairtrade Fortnight, which ran from February 25 to yesterday.

Residents were invited to drop in to sample a cup of Fairtrade tea and vote for their favourite among 16 different cakes, which were all made by the group members and other volunteers using Fairtrade ingredients, such as chocolate, nuts, and sugar.

Kenneth Saunders, a group member, said: “Cakes are just one of the things you can make with Fairtrade products.

“Fairtrade products aren’t measurably dearer than non-Fairtrade products. By buying Fairtrade you give farmers in the Third World a much better deal because people like Cadbury’s for chocolate agree to pay a guaranteed minimum price, no matter what the market price is.”

Among the cakes on offer were fruit and nut cake, marmalade flapjacks, banana bread and ginger cake. Recipes were available so visitors could make their own.

People were also encouraged to write their name on a poster bearing a footprint and the phrase “I took another step”, which the group plans to photograph to prove the success of the event to the Fairtrade Foundation, which runs the Fairtrade scheme.