Today’s guest blog is from Joe Fortune, General Secretary of the Co-operative Party.

We in the co-operative movement have an amazing story to tell about our adoption and leadership within UK Fairtrade over many decades. Over the years, I have spent time looking back through old copies of Co-operative Party and movement pamphlets and articles, which all lay out in black and white (and it was black and white, no colour printing!) the efforts and commitment of those activists we sit on the shoulders of. However, the Co-operative Party and movement’s commitment to Fairtrade is not, and must never be, something we only look back on. It must be something we live, day in and day out. 

Fairtrade Fortnight is an opportunity to renew that zeal, and to spread the message of hope and optimism which characterises Fairtrade. Fairtrade is our values and principles in practice. Within it lies the essence of our approach to politics and society. I’m proud that the last year has seen the Co-operative Party bring practical campaigning weight to the continued fight for Fairtrade. 

This year, our representatives in Westminster have pushed for Fairtrade to be properly considered through new trade deals. Our Parliamentary Group Chair and Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Preet Gill, has led the charge for proper financial support for this country’s international development efforts, and for a focus to be on co-operative development. Preet also led our efforts to persuade a major chocolate retailer to reverse its decision to walk away from the use of Fairtrade. This effort saw tens of thousands of people join the campaign and re-affirmed, in my mind, our movement’s unwavering support for the efforts of the Fairtrade Foundation.  

We all hold consumer power in the products we choose and support each day. I would encourage everyone to exercise this power to choose those products and lines which hold the Fairtrade mark. Still today, we uphold the historic co-operative movement commitment to Fairtrade. We are proud of the efforts of our retail co-operatives and others who continue to lead the way and champion the proliferation of Fairtrade in this country and around the world. 

Find out more about Fairtrade Fortnight, this year’s focus on climate change, and the work of the Fairtrade Foundation here: Fairtrade Fortnight | Fairtrade Foundation.