SHOPPERS are encouraged to put a Fairtrade item in their real or virtual shopping trolley as the annual Fairtrade Fortnight gets underway.

The campaign, which began yesterday (Monday February 22) and runs until March 7, is usually a chance for residents to meet with and find out about the work of Stourbridge Fairtrade, which this year celebrates 10 years of Stourbridge as a Fairtrade Town.

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, organisers have been unable to put on one of their popular tasting events or art competitions and instead are asking shoppers to buy something Fairtrade instead.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: "While we can’t run our normal events or information sessions to support the fortnight, people can do their bit by adding a fairtrade chocolate bar, banana, pack of tea bags, jar of coffee or bag of sugar to their weekly shop. And the Fairtrade Foundation website is full of information and ideas about how people can help make a difference."

Nationally, the Fairtrade Foundation is hosting an online festival Choose the World You Want and Fairtrade Fortnight 2021 marks the start of a new climate campaign asking the British public to get behind Fairtrade so farmers overseas can benefit from fairer prices, fairer trading practices and the resources needed for tackling the climate emergency in climate vulnerable countries such as Kenya and Honduras.