Fair Trade Thriving In Our Fair Trade Capital

The Cocoa Press fair trade chocolate is going so well that owners Rochelle Harrison and Gabriel Davidson are setting up their own chocolate factory in central Wellington, which will be known as the Wellington Chocolate Factory. This will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone who has tasted Wellington’s very own fair trade chocolate – dark, smooth and quite delicious!

Rochelle is the first chocolatier in New Zealand to choose 100% certified organic and fair trade ingredients. Her organic beans and sugar allow her to make a product which is safe and naturally flavoursome, and their fair trade origins are aligned with her principles as a person and as a producer.

"Fair trade is a win-win for producers and consumers. It gives consumers an opportunity to purchase with their values".

She is proud to support the work done with the farmers of her Trade Aid-imported beans and loves to see the results of Trade Aid's partnership with the growers, including the building of new water systems, churches and schools.

And did you know that fair trade bananas are more popular in Wellington than any other centre. So All Good, the company that introduced fair trade bananas to New Zealand, did not hesitate to bring their fair trade banana producers to meet all the Wellingtonians who buy their bananas.

Matt Morrison, Marketing Manager for All Good points out that by choosing to buy Fairtrade Certified bananas, New Zealanders have enabled All Good to contribute over $380, 000 in Fairtrade Premium to the El Guabo cooperative. “El Guabo have democratically chosen to use part of this Fairtradepremium towards college scholarships for children involved with the cooperative. Many of these children are the first in their family to attend college.”

Community support for fair trade continues to grow with new fair trade schools and fair trade work places committing to using fair trade products. These include the Ministry of Justice in Wellington that now buys its coffee and tea from Fairtrade certified sources, while Clifton Terrace Model School in central Wellington has made the choice as well to use fair trade products in their school.

These are just a few of the success stories of fair trade and they are a real celebration of the fourth anniversary this week of Wellington becoming a Fair Trade City. Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says, "Wellington City congratulates Fair Trade Wellington and supportive businesses on meeting this milestone. Wellington is proud to have become the first Fair Trade Capital City in the Southern Hemisphere and we look forward to the further growth of fair trade products and businesses."
ENDS

© Scoop Media