FAIRTRADE fortnight in Dudley is set to be packed with ethical initiatives to help change lives for foreign producers.

From February 24 to March 9 the borough will host a number of events by Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative and Stourbridge Fairtrade.

The fortnight kicks off early with a Fairtrade coffee morning in Sedgley on Saturday February 15. The event at the Sedgley Community Association Coffee Morning on Ladies Walk runs from 10am to 12 and includes a display and stall.

Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative’s main event is on Friday February 28 from 11am to 2pm at the Sedgley Co-Op on Dudley Street and will include Fairtrade cookery demonstrations, Fairtrade tastings and a Fairtrade craft stall.

Other activities across the borough include a free Faitrade tea and coffee tasting session organised by Stourbridge Fairtrade on Saturday March 8 from 10am to noon at St Thomas’s Church Hall on Market Street.

This includes an art competition for borough schoolchildren, featuring a banana shaped person, animal or object which reflects Fairtrade. Entries should be brought along by 10.30am.

The Mayor of Dudley will be dropping by Sainsbury’s Amblecote on Friday February 21 to see their range of Fairtrade items and to view their Fairtrade bananas as the fruit is the focus of this year’s campaign.

Councillor Pete Lowe, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: “I’m really impressed with all the activity happening during Fairtrade Fortnight.

“These drop-in taster sessions are a great way to find out about Fairtrade and how something as simple as changing the tea you buy can literally transform someone’s life on the other side of the world.

“I’d like to congratulate Stourbridge Fairtrade on retaining Fairtrade status for the town and encourage Sedgley Fairtrade Initiative on its own bid.

Fairtrade aims to provide better prices and working conditions plus local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.