Some of you may be aware of recent criticisms of Fairtrade coffee in the media, including the Financial Times.  We want to reassure you that this does not relate to Traidcraft.  Below is part of a reply from the Fairtrade Foundation:

All workers hired directly by farmers' organizations  must be paid legal minimum wages. Fairtrade inspects against this and treats non-compliance with great seriousness. However, on payment of temporary workers by individual small farmers, Fairtrade recognizes that farmers who sell only a small proportion of their crop on Fairtrade terms will often struggle to earn the minimum wage themselves. That's why our standards state that they must share any benefits of Fairtrade and progressively improve working conditions. These farms were paying workers 25% above what they could get elsewhere, despite selling just 10-15% of their total crop on Fairtrade terms. It's not enough. Rather than punish such farmers, which helps no-one, we work tirelessly to get more of the coffee industry to offer smallholders a fair and sustainable price for their crop. This focus on development is uniquely the core of Fairtrade certification.

The full response can be found on Traidcraft's website www.traidcraft.co.uk .

There is so much more that Traidcraft does in supporting producers, helping them to the point where they can reap the benefits of local markets and the expanding international fairtrade world.

Remember to visit the Traidraft stall at the Charity Card sale in the Village Hall on November 11^th 9.30 am -12 noon.  There will be cards, calendars and of course gifts.

Christmas starts early this year at the CBIT Christmas Fair on Thursday November 30^th at Loseley Park kindly supported by Hamptons International and in aid of the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT). Come along to this exclusive fair in the Tithe Barn, Loseley Park from 9.30 am until 4.30 pm.

Melissa Gibbons, Fundraising Manager at the Child Brain Injury Trust, says: Each year around 20,000 children sustain a brain injury through an accident or illness. Events like the CBIT Christmas Fair at Loseley Park are really important in helping CBIT to continue our work to support these children and their families."

The CBIT Christmas Fair at Loseley Park will have over 30 stalls. Entry to the Fair is £3.00 and all money raised on the day will be donated to the Child Brain Injury Trust.