Keeping it fair

FEW of us can plead ignorance about the scandalous rate of pay and dire working conditions that many people in the third world endure, to provide us with the daily luxuries that so many of us now take for granted.

Knowing what we now know, it is difficult to really enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or cocoa unless it's a Fair Trade brand 44% of Irish people now recognise the Fair Trade label, as opposed to 16% in 2002.

Not only has awareness increased, but the quality and variety of the produce has also improved. Sales of some Fair Trade mark coffee and tea grew by 50% last year.