Minutes of Dyfi Valley Fair Trade Group Meeting 16.3.09

Present: Keith, Diane, Phil, Nicola, Liza, apologies Liz.

1. Tropical Forest honey producers

Tropical Forest Products honey is going to have FT certification removed because the producers in remote forest areas cannot meet criteria of the FTF to form cooperatives.

Other founder members of the FT Foundation, such as Equal Exchange, are also affected.

Afghan raisin producers are also not certified because FTF cannot work in insecure areas. Note that the 2008 FTF Strategy says the Foundation is committed to giving priority to "Opening the door for more new producers to come into the Fairtrade system and sell their goods into a growing UK Fairtrade market - especially from the most disadvantaged groups in the very poorest countries."

ACTION: Diane will get more facts from TFP and from Paul Chandler of Traidcraft (which sell many non trademarked products) and then weíll campaign for criteria that support the poorest or most vulnerable producers.

Aim to publicise the issue at the Wales FT Conference in June.

2. How fairtrade are cotton clothes sold cheaply in M&S and other large shops?

The cotton in Fairtrade T-shirts etc is from FT producers but the workers making the clothes do not seem to be guaranteed FT conditions.

ACTION: Nicola will check FTF criteria and write asking the Foundation for full details on specific items.

3. Review of FT Fortnight

Went very well although the numbers were a bit low at the Twmpath. Banana entertainment was thrilling.

Stall sales good. £370 taken overall at stall and Twmpath. Agreed next year to link Twmpath with primary schools and early evening start. Another idea was to show short film White Gold in Bro Ddyfi - we hope next year's theme will be FT cotton.

£320 was given to primary schools for their Go Bananas activities - very good publicity in Cambrian News Mach and Aberystwyth editions.

Extra bananas were given to Ysgol Gynradd Mach and were much appreciated.

Thanks to all for supporting the FTF events
Diolch i pawb.
Nicola