Honiton to becoome a Fairtrade town?

A FAIRTRADE event was taking place in Honiton as your Herald went to press yesterday (Tuesday) - and as plans are being mooted to designate Honiton a Fairtrade town.Honiton Senior Council was promoting Fairtrade goods during a tasting session and raffle at the Royal British Legion, in Dowell Street.University students from Plymouth, who supported a Fairtrade Fortnight promotion at Co-op in Honiton recently, have called a meeting with business leaders and representatives of local organisations.They say 210 people ate bananas in Lace Walk on one day in March, showing good support for Fairtrade Fortnight.A survey, undertaken at the same time, revealed support for a more permanent commitment in Honiton.It is understood by the Herald that the meeting is to take place at 6.30pm on Wednesday, April 29, at the Senior Citizens' Centre, in Chapel Street.Honiton Town Council is to host the event, which will feature presentations from university students and representatives from Plymouth Global Centre.Former mayor, Councillor Vernon Whitlock said: "What we will need to do to become a Fairtrade Town is to bring together the 'five Cs' - council, commerce, community, common consensus and captains."I think it is a really good cause, because it is about bigger issues; about being involved in one world and a global economy."Ultimately, it is about producers being treated fairly."Councillor Whitlock said the meeting will be open to all.Tony Simpson, secretary of Honiton Senior Council, is a staunch supporter of the Fairtrade ethos."It gives the producers a fair price for their goods and Honiton is the ideal town for Fairtrade," he said."There are already a number of outlets, such as cafes and restaurants, that provide Fairtrade coffee and so on."We've got so many small shops and small businesses. They are the ideal target for the Fairtrade approach, because they practice it in their own businesses.