Going bananas for world record bid
Hundreds of school children in Clonakilty in west Cork will combine with Fairtrade (FT) supporters all over the world in a co-ordinated global attempt to break the world record for the most bananas eaten in a 24-hour period.
The event on Friday will mark the end of FT Fortnight.
Barring last minute slip-ups, people all over the world have been asked to gather — each armed with a FT banana — in schools, workplaces, public parks, and anywhere that suits, and simultaneously eat their fruit
The Irish events, which must be registered with Fairtrade Ireland, must take place between noon on Friday, March 6, and noon on Saturday, March 7, if the record is to be ratified.
In Clonakilty, Pádraig O’Driscoll of Con Twomey’s fruit and vegetables distributors, which has distributed FT bananas for some time, will visit local schools to dish out extra fruit to pupils and teachers.
After school, another banana eating event will be held in the town’s Kennedy Gardens where FT bananas will be sold at cost price at the gate.
The countdown to the banana eating session will begin just before 4.15pm and everyone is invited to get involved.
The theme of FT Fortnight is “Go Bananas!” and an art competition on the theme has also been organised in national schools.
Art entries from school children in Clonakilty will all be displayed along the railings of the Catholic church on Saturday before the winners are chosen.
Meanwhile, Tralee has become the first Kerry town and the 38th Irish town to achieve FT status.
There are 29 towns actively seeking FT status.
Ugandan coffee grower John Muwagaba told a town council meeting that the set price for products sold under the FT system benefits his entire community, helping education and health.
Tralee’s FT committee spent three years working on the project, spokesperson Teresa Galvin said.
They have ensured that the town council, local hospitals and hotels switched to FT coffee and tea, and encouraged large supermarkets to stock a range of FT products.
“We want to ensure the products are available in the mainstream shops,” Ms Galvin said.
They have also forged links with Kerry Action for Development Education (Kade), the Justice and Peace committee and groups dealing with immigrants.
In addition, students at the town’s largest secondary school, Mercy Mounthawk, are looking forward to holding banana parties.
* Register your banana eating event at www.fairtrade.ie/gobananas
