The FAIRTRADE mark, which you can now find on over 6,000 products in the UK (from coffee and tea to flowers and gold), is an international guarantee that the producers have been paid a fair price, received a social premium to fund developments in their community and helped to produce crops with greater respect for the environment. Fairtrade companies work in partnership with the producers and help them to negotiate better conditions.
Portsmouth achieved recognition as a Fairtrade City in March 2004. This meant that we had to prove that sufficient shops, cafes, restaurants and local groups used Fairtrade products, that we supported the idea, and that we had an effective publicity strategy. This status is renewed every two years. We have recently achieved Fairtrade City status until 2021, following a renewed motion of support from the full Council.