Mapping Fair Trade in Oxford

Where can you find a good cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee? What shops sell Fair Trade crafts or clothes? What schools, colleges, universities, and places of worship are committed to using and promoting Fairtrade?

Twenty years ago, when we were just starting our journey as a Fairtrade City, we started to map the footprint of Fair Trade in Oxford. Now, to celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’ve done it again. You can find the map here.

Some old friends have left; some new ones have come in. What’s struck us particularly in this endeavour is how deeply embedded Fairtrade is in many retailers. Go into any Co-op, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s or Waitrose, and you’ll find a range of Fairtrade own-brand products, as well as familiar brands like CafeDirect, Clipper, and Divine or Tony’s.

Among the most familiar Fairtrade products:

  • all bananas at Co-op, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose are Fairtrade
  • all own-brand chocolate confectionery at Co-op and Waitrose is, too – as is much of that at Lidl
  • so are all own-brand coffee and tea at Co-op, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose (and don’t forget Cardew’s in the Covered Market, which has a range of artisan Fairtrade coffees)
  • you’ll find the largest selection of Fairtrade wine at the Co-op, but Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose are also good sources

That’s a win!

Want a wider selection of Fair Trade goods? At Headington Fair Trade, they have you covered. There’s a brilliant range of Fairtrade foods, Fair Trade crafts, and ethical cleaning products: stop in and take a look. Oxfam shops around the city have a variety of Fairtrade food and beverages, as well as ‘Sourced by Oxfam’ Fair Trade crafts; Wild Honey‘s three branches also have a variety of Fairtrade food and drink.

Fair Trade cotton launched in 2005, just after we became a Fairtrade City. Today clothes using it – as well as other Fair Trade clothing – are available in several locations. White Stuff offers Fairtrade cotton T-shirts, shirts and dresses both at their own store and in John Lewis. Headington Fair Trade has Fair Trade scarves, socks, and accessories of all types. Rainbow and Spoon opposite the Business School (near the station) has a wide range of Fair Trade and ethically traded clothing and crafts. And YOU Underwear in the Covered Market uses Fairtrade cotton and is a Fair Trade organization: not only is its underwear lovely, but it’s as fair as it gets!

If you’re looking for quick Fairtrade refreshments while you’re out and about, you’re never far from a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee. If you’re in the city centre, you can go to Organic Deli, where they use Fairtrade organic coffee from Papua New Guinea; pop into Marks and Spencer’s cafe; or have a cup of tea at Brown’s cafe in the Covered Market. Further afield, there’s the Waitrose cafe in Botley or coffee at CrepeAffaire in Summertown. And wherever you are in the city, you can explore the options at one of the many branches of Greggs (city centre, rail station, Headington, Templars Square, Greater Leys), where not only the tea and coffee and sugar, but also the orange and apple juice – and chocolate in many of the baked goods – are Fairtrade.

After something more substantial? The Oxford Retreat (Hythe Bridge Street) and Gusto (Cowley Rd) are among the restaurants that will serve you Fairtrade tea alongside a meal.

(You may notice a chain that used to be Fairtrade that isn’t in there any more. If you see one of their branches, you might stop by and ask them to come back to the Fairtrade fold!)

What next? 

It’s great to see so many places on the map. But there are still far too many places that aren’t. What we’re aiming for is a world where it’s easier to show what isn’t Fairtrade than what is.

Have a favourite shop or restaurant that promotes Fair Trade or Fairtrade goods and isn’t on the map? Let us know! Email chairoftc@gmail.com.

Have a favourite shop or restaurant that doesn’t? Why not ask them to try it? If you’d like some information you can give them, email the same address, and we’ll provide it for you.

The reality is that any shop or restaurant can provide Fairtrade: Greggs and Lidl have showed that you can do it at a low price point; other shops show you can also compete on the high-end market. It’s just a matter of will.

What makes the difference is if retailers and restaurants think that Fairtrade is something that their customers want. That means we have to raise our voices … let’s go!

Fairtrade gold miners visit – May 2024

We’re delighted to help host members of the Peruvian Fairtrade gold co-operative CECOMSAP to the UK.  The delegation will be in London on 29th May and Oxford on the 30th May.  If you’d like to meet them while they’re here please contact chairoftc@gmail.com.  You can find out more about the Co-op in this video (which is in Spanish).

Message from the Lord Mayor of Oxford

Thank you to the Lord Mayor of Oxford Councillor Lubna Arshad for celebrating the city’s support for Fair Trade on World Fair Trade Day

WFTO calls for ceasefire in Gaza

Read more 0n their website.  Many WFTO producers are based in Palestine and Israel.  Conscious of their friends and colleagues and for the sake of all concerned WFTO are adding their voices to those around the world calling for a ceasefire.

Stories from Inside the Doughnut – thriving with fair trade

A conversation with Erinch Sahan (formerly with Oxfam and the World Fair Trade Organisation, now with the Doughnut Economics Action Lab) hosted by the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition.

The conversation will be followed by Q & A and Fair Trade refreshments.

6.00 pm Wednesday 15 November 2023, Lady Margaret Hall, Norham Gardens, Oxford OX2 6QA

Let us know you’re coming:  jot down your name and email address in the link below so we know how many people to expect and can contact you about the event if necessary.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiT85lms08P17bsdF2jBamhOrRNhbZws3la97JQ3yegZ8kow/viewform?usp=pp_url

 

Adventures in Chocolate: A Talk and Tasting

Hear about a recent visit to Fairtrade cocoa producers in Ghana and sample Fairtrade chocolate from Ghana, UK and France.
In March, CCOW’s director visited Fairtrade cocoa producers in Ghana. Hear what she learned about the positive difference Fairtrade has made and the challenges the Fairtrade system faces. And taste some wonderful Fairtrade chocolate!

An event co-sponsored by CCOW and the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition. Free. All welcome.

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 19:00 – 20:30, St Michael at the North Gate Cornmarket Street Oxford OX1 3EY

Adventures in Chocolate: A Talk and Tasting Tickets, Thu 13 Jul 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Remarkable Women in Fair Trade #4

The last piece in our jigsaw.  Here are insights from 4 more remarkable women in fair trade from around the world: Aderina, Ana, Antonia and Sagrario.

Read their stories here:   https://www.oxfairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Remarkable-women.pdf

Remarkable Women in Fair Trade # 3

Mitra Bali has been participating actively in Bali’s economic development since 1993.  One of Bali’s great sources of potential is the skill of its craftsmen and women.  All too often, however, the craft producers are exploited by middlemen and have no idea where their products have been sold or at what price.

Read their stories: https://www.oxfairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Mitra-Bali.pdf

Remarkable Women in Fair Trade 2023 # 2

The Undugu Society of Kenya was established in 1973 by the late Father Arnold Gol to assist children living and working on the streets of Nairobi.  These days it focuses on Rescue, Rehabilitation and Re-Integration of children and youth as well as the socio-economic empowerment of poor communities throughout the country.

Read their stories: https://www.oxfairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Undungu-Fair-Trade.pdf

 

Remarkable Women in Fair Trade 2023 #1

Creative Handicrafts, Mumbai, India, began in 1984: the inspiration of Sister Isabel Martin who started the work with just 2 women.   Since then it has evolved into a Fair Trade Organisation, independent, non-religious, non-profit, cooperative, aiming to change the world one woman at a time.

Read their stories: https://www.oxfairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Creative-Handicrafts.pdf