Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual marketing campaign organized and funded by the Fairtrade industry to increase the sales of its Fairtrade brand and increase the price that can be charged for it. It makes use of volunteers who believe that increasing the sales of the Fairtrade brand will help Third World Farmers, but who may also be committed to Fair Trade, ethical trading or development issues. The concept was pioneered by the Fairtrade Foundation in the United Kingdom, and held firstly in 1997 in Scotland directed by Barnaby Miln. Its national launch was on 12 February 1997 at Augustine United Church on Edinburgh's George IV Bridge by Lady Marion Fraser, chairman of the charity Christian Aid. She broke a bar of fairtrade chocolate to launch the event.

It turned out to be a highly successful campaign to get every supermarket throughout Scotland to stock Fairtrade products. Supporters of Christian Aid Scotland, SCIAF, Traidcraft, Oxfam and the World Development Movement were sent by Barnaby Miln a list of 85 supermarkets in Scotland's cities and larger towns, and encouraged during the Fortnight to go and ask for Fairtrade products.

Fairtrade fortnight spread to the rest of the United Kingdom the following year. Today, Fairtrade fortnights are celebrated in several countries, most notably Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Awareness raising and the promotion of Fairtrade products to the public are the main objectives of the fortnight.

Usually these events are:

• Fetes
• Fairs
• Fairtrade food and drink tastings
• Fashion shows

These events are supported by local authorities and governments, Fairtrade Steering Groups, dozens of charities and ATOs, all seeking to ensure that the local populace purchase fair and ethically traded goods. Local schools and colleges where Fairtrade is an often discussed topic also play a large role with Fairtrade Fortnight.

Events are spotlighted and recorded on various national Fairtrade labelling websites (such as the Fairtrade Foundation or Fairtrade Canada) and most media arms are keen to support a fast growing trend in which previously disadvantaged third world producers have a fairer market to sell their wares and develop their economic capabilities.

In 2013 Fairtrade Fortnight will be celebrated from February 25 to March 10.