Garstang - the world's first   Fair Trade town

Garstang, a small town in Lancashire, UK, has become the world's first "Fair Trade town". Its newly acquired status was celebrated by a Fair Trade breakfast on 8 June 2000 which was attended by the then Under Secretary of State for International Development George Foulkes.The declaration was the culmination of years of persistent campaigning on fair trade in Garstang by the local Oxfam Group. The group, led by Bruce Crowther, have successfully persuaded all the schools and churches in the town to buy Fair Trade, and 90 per cent of all traders in the town to sign a pledge form promising to sell or use Fair Trade products. Almost every shop in Garstang is now proudly displaying a specially designed sticker declaring their support for Fair Trade and local produce.

In a speech at the Fair Trade breakfast, George Foulkes said "It is a great initiative by Garstang. Not just on behalf of myself, nor just on behalf of the Department for International Development, but on behalf of the government I would really like to welcome what is a great initiative by Bruce, by Oxfam and the town. I want to try to ensure that the initiative is followed in many other towns and cities throughout the whole of England

The group held an official opening ceremony with the unveiling of a plaque, and they have added Garstang’s new title to road signs at the town's boundary. For further information visit the

Garstang Fairtrade Town website.:

http://www.garstangoxfamgroup.fsnet.co.uk/