FUW DRINKS TO FAIRTRADE AT COFFEE MORNING

 A Fairtrade coffee morning has been organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales's Anglesey branch in support of the union's joint campaign with the Wales Fair Trade Forum (WFTF) to promote fair prices for food producers in Wales and throughout the developing world.

Last year Wales became the first ever "Fair Trade Nation" and the FUW announced its support for Fair Trade at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in December.

The coffee morning will be held on Saturday, February 28 - during Fairtrade Fortnight (February 23 - March 8) - at the Nant-Yr-Odyn Hotel, Llangristiolus.

Guests include Fair Trade speakers and catering managers from local companies and FUW policy director Dr Nick Fenwick will also be present. The Co-operative store at Menai Bridge has donated Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits for the event.

FUW county executive officer Heidi Williams said: "We are grateful to The Co-operative for their generosity and we very much appreciate their continuous support for Fairtrade products."

The FUW and the WFTF support the key message: "If you can't buy local produce, buy Fair Trade produce".

"Following this principle recognises ways of supporting small scale producers - whether in underdeveloped countries of the Third World or right here in Wales," said Mrs Williams.

The Co-operative Group is also supporting Fairtrade Fortnight with a series of initiatives, as well as savings of up to 20 per cent on selected Fairtrade products.

Their stores stock the widest range of Fairtrade grocery products of any UK supermarket, with 230 different Fairtrade lines, and was the first high street retailer to list Cafedirect back in 1992.

During this year's Fairtrade Fortnight, Colombian coffee growers Jose Manuel Ocampo Lopez and Rosa Helena Lopez De Soto, who provide beans for the Fairtrade coffee sold in Co-operative food stores across the UK, will attend a series of regional events to talk about the difference Fairtrade has made to themselves and their communities.

Anyone interested in attending the FUW coffee morning should telephone the Anglesey county branch office on (01248) 750250.