Fairtrade Fortnight: Easy things you can do to have a positive impact on global farming

From 22nd February to 7th March, thousands of people across the UK will come together for Fairtrade Fortnight to support the farmers and workers worldwide who produce our food, grow our cotton, and mine our raw materials. Of course, 2020 was a year unlike any other. That’s why this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight will reflect the interconnectedness of people around the globe during the pandemic and worsening climate catastrophes.

For 2021, Fairtrade Fortnight highlights the growing challenges of climate change, particularly on the farmers and workers in communities with established links to the organisation. The climate change crisis is an ever-increasing threat - those in vulnerable countries are already seeing significant impacts from droughts, floods, heatwaves, and shrinking harvests.

Yet while the world’s farmers are dealing with extreme weather changes, we still waste a massive amount of food in this country, speeding climate change. Do you ever feel at a loss, struggling to make a positive difference?

You’re not alone. But it turns out there’s a lot that we can do, even as we remain in our homes during the lockdown. Fighting climate change can be as simple as making small daily changes. From shopping habits to supporting brands with a sustainable ethos, it’s easier than you might think to make a meaningful impact on the planet.

Whilst in Wembley Park shopping, make sure you visit Wembley Park Market - a haven for those looking to make small tweaks to your everyday shopping habits. Not sure where to start? Here are the biggest Fairtrade Fortnight concerns - and how you can combat them, courtesy of Wembley Park Market.

Farmers worldwide are struggling to make a living, even as climate change alters the weather in strange new ways. Even as the temperature fluctuates, their crops are fetching lower prices than ever. It’s only with fair prices and higher wages that farmers will be able to meet their everyday needs and prepare for more challenges ahead.

Along with Fairtrade Fortnight, farmers needs your help to place their voices at the heart of the conversation around the climate crisis. It’s only with their powerful experiences that we can truly grasp the reality of their struggles.

What can you do?

When it comes to your weekly shop and your special treats alike, look out for Fairtrade certified brands. Within Wembley Park shops, you can get excellent Fairtrade tea, coffee and chocolate from Wembley Park Market.

When you need a great cup of tea, their range of English Tea Shop products are for you. They exclusively work with the finest Organic and Fairtrade farmers, blenders, and producers from all over the world. For even more unique teas, Nemi Teas offers organic, Fairtrade, and Rainforest-Alliance certified options, all sold plastic-free and with biodegradable packaging. That means that when you’re sipping on your next cuppa, you can rest assured your tea supports farmers, protects wildlife, and respects the natural environment.

For a sweet treat, the Cotswolds Fudge Co. creates a melt in your mouth fudge using only the finest Fairtrade ingredients. Their award-winning handcrafted fudge is made using classic recipes to create nostalgic treats that you can feel good about indulging in – they even have vegan ranges! Their range boasts many flavours, including butterscotch, caramel chocolate, clotted cream, rocky road, and classic butter.

When you think about food waste, you might think about the packet of rocket wilting in your fridge or the bruised apple destined for the bin. But did you know that food waste is an issue that occurs throughout the food supply chain and contributes to 6.7% of all greenhouse gasses? It isn’t just a problem in people’s homes – the largest amounts of food waste occurs before it even leaves the farm. Some is then rejected when it arrives at the supermarket or restaurant.

What can you do?

Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to prevent food wastage! Make a commitment to shop brands that actively reduce food waste and have an ethos around preventing good food from the dump, even if that food is a little ugly or banged up. After all, it all tastes the same!

Whilst shopping in Wembley Park for your weekly essentials, why not grab some cracking mayo from Rubies in the Rubble. Found in the food section of Wembley Park Market, this sustainable food brand is committed to tackling the climate change crisis and food waste epidemic by creating delicious condiments from surplus ingredients that would otherwise be chucked out. From cupboard classics like ketchup and plant-based mayo to award-winning relishes, Rubies in the Rubble flavour-packed sauces help reduce food-waste-related greenhouse gas emissions.

You’ve likely heard the saying – you vote with your wallet. Every time you spend money on food, drink, and consumer goods, you impact the entire supply chain, for better or for worse.

What can you do?

Look out for brands with an eco-friendly, sustainable ethos. Smaller brands, like those stocked in Wembley Park Market's emporium of independent designer-makers, are also a wise choice, as they tend to have a lower impact on the climate. They often have direct relationships with farmers and create their products in small batches that reduce waste and lessen the impact of mass production.

Family-run Seggiano is perfect for all of your Italian cravings, including olive oils and pasta sauces. Seggiano focuses on ethical methods to create sustainable products, without sacrificing on taste.

For your next caffeine fix, head to Cricklewood Coffee Roasters. They source their own coffee from farmers all over the world, building direct relationships with suppliers to ensure everyone is paid a fair price for the freshest beans. Produced in small batches, a Cricklewood cuppa can originate anywhere from Brazil to Rwanda.

Clearspring offers a range of Japanese and fine foods, all made with authentic recipes and by traditional methods. They are passionate about supporting organic agriculture by adding valuable contribution to organic farmers and artisan food producers.

Switching just some of your shopping to organic products can have a hugely positive impact on our farming systems. More demand for organic products means more organic farms, which results in fewer pesticides, more animals raised to the very highest standards and less mass production and climate damage.

What can you do?

Look out for brands recommended by the Soil Association, the UK’s leading organisation campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming, and land use. Many shops in Wembley Park stock organic products and Wembley Park Market particularly full of them.

Want to spice things up? Pick up a spice pack from Mumbai Spice Club, a company that is truly passionate about ethical production. Using natural fertilisers to create their magnificent aromas, Mumbai Spice Club is an environmentally friendly business with a low carbon footprint and fairly paid farmers and workers.

The first-ever shop to be certified by the Soil Association, Planet Organic believe in promoting health in communities through natural and sustainable products. As an eco-friendly, ethically ran company, Plant Organic strive to be more than just a shop, by continually improving soil health and protecting wildlife, as well as using recyclable packaging and natural ingredients.