23 October 2023
Jersey's status as a Fairtrade Island, which stretches back nearly 20 years, has been reaffirmed with a presentation from the Fairtrade Foundation.
The renewed recognition acknowledges the passion and commitment in Jersey to support Fairtrade farmers and workers around the world.
The Fairtrade mark on products offers customers reassurance that fair prices have been paid and stringent social, economic, and environmental standards met.
The original call for Jersey to be a Fairtrade Island came in a proposition put forward by the then Senator Jean Le Maistre in 2004. By voting in favour, politicians committed to supporting and promoting fairtrade products in the Island and serving fairtrade coffee and tea at States meetings and in the Government.
The Assistant Minister for the Environment, Deputy Hilary Jeune, who previously worked for the Fairtrade movement, said: "I'm grateful that Jersey's efforts in this area have been recognised, and I'm especially thankful to Tony Allchurch and his team for their continued promotion of fairtrade products in Jersey. They work tirelessly to keep fairtrade at the top of our minds and shopping baskets.
"Islanders can effectively vote with their shopping habits and have an impact on supply chains, environmental and biodiversity impact and can choose to be a force for good.
"I see a clear link with the work I'm responsible for on climate change. Buying fairtrade shows solidarity with farmers who are on the front line feeling the full effects of climate change, and the fairtrade premium helps them adapt to changing weather patterns and cropping cycles.
"The Carbon Neutral Roadmap makes a commitment to reduce Jersey's global contribution to climate change. This includes reducing the emissions that we are responsible for through the goods and services that we buy which were manufactured elsewhere. By buying Fairtrade, Islanders can be assured that the products are being produced in ways that are less damaging to the environment and are supporting entire communities positively."
The CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, Mike Gidney, was in Jersey to make the presentation last night (Sunday 22 October 2023).
gov.je