Fairtrade is making their lives better

Over 390,000 people attempted to munch their way into the record books last weekend by eating just one Fairtrade banana during a 24 hour period to mark the end of Fairtrade Fortnight 2009.

People dressed in an array of banana-themed costumes flocked to London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday 7 March to join in the communal banana chomp, some after attending 24 events in 24 London boroughs over a 24 hour period.

Meanwhile residents in the first Fairtrade towns in the UK and the United States – Garstang in Lancashire and Media in Pennsylvania – watched each other take part in the record attempt via a live video link while Leeds hosted its own banana-eating event in the city centre .

Elsewhere around the country, young and old, in churches, mosques, synagogues, schools, universities, work places, restaurants, cafés and shops all helped break the world record.

Jane Snell, Business Development Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation said ‘We are thrilled that the banana challenge has been so successful and has resonated with so many thousands of people. Buying Fairtrade is a really easy way to help alleviate poverty and ensure that the people behind the product get a fair price. Bananas are the most popular fruit in the UK and are the most popular Fairtrade product.’

Also during Fairtrade Fortnight, an estimated 11,000 separate campaigner events were held, ranging from coffee mornings to fashion shows and regional debates by Fairtrade Towns, Churches and Schools around the UK.

Barbara Crowther, Director of Communications and Policy at the Fairtrade Foundation said:

We’ve just ended another amazing Fairtrade Fortnight. The good news is that despite the current economic situation, were have been able to report growth of 43 per cent in the estimated retail value of Fairtrade sales. But if times are tough for us here, they’re desperate for smallholders, caught between rising food and fuel prices, and a credit crunch that means whilst our banks are being bailed out, theirs are closing their doors.  Fairtrade is needed now more than ever – and we’re delighted that so many thousands of people across the UK continue to support Fairtrade and choose products with the FAIRTRADE Mark.