In this update, the first Fairer World update of 2025, we are very pleased to report that during November and December 2024, sales figures at the Fairer World shop, and at the stalls which Fairer World supplies, were encouragingly high. Thank you very much to everyone.
Eswatini update
Mould has been found in some jars of Eswatini jams and marmalades and the whole range of jams and marmalades with black tops has been recalled by True Origin, the company which supplies Fairer World and is the importer of these products into the UK. This recall notice remains in force and is displayed at the Fairer World shop and on the Fairer World website here. Fairer World has also been asked to remove jars of Eswatini chutneys and sauces with black tops from sale and has complied with that request. We are told that it will be at least the summer before new stock Eswatini products are available. Other than that, we await further information.
Some dates for the year
3 to 9 March: York International Women’s Week. Programme at https://yorkinternationalwomensweek.wordpress.com/.
Thursday 13 March: 10.00am to 2.00pm Easter Preview at Fairer World. Easter eggs, small and large, other Easter chocolate, olive wood crosses, painted wooden eggs and Easter decorations. Palestinian food and crafts. Hot drinks and tastings.
During the second half of March: Clothing will be back in the Fairer World shop – more details later.
Thursday 15 May: Palestinian focus at Fairer World, marking the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic. The Nakba refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians from their homes and land.
Monday 22 September to Sunday 5 October: Fairtrade Fortnight. Details at https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/.
Easter chocolate
There will be no Divine Easter eggs this year so Fairer World will be increasing the number of fair trade Easter eggs from other companies:
- We have the full range of Meaningful Chocolate Company Easter chocolate, including the Real Easter Egg, in stock already.
- We will have the full range of Tony’s Chocolonely Easter chocolate and some new varieties / flavours of Tony’s Chocolonely chocolate bars in stock shortly. These are on order at present. Details will be in the next Fairer World update.
- We have Cocoa Loco organic chocolate eggs on order.
Details of the range of Easter chocolate available at Fairer World will be on our forthcoming Food Products price list, which will be issued in a few weeks’ time. Although prices of Divine’s ordinary range of chocolate are due to increase significantly in early March, no doubt linked to the sharp rise in world cocoa prices in 2024, Fairer World will not raise its prices of Divine chocolate before Easter.
York Fair Trade Forum
Fairer World has always supported and been involved with York Fair Trade Forum since it was founded. Here is a recent notice from the Forum:-
* Campaigns locally, nationally and internationally for a fairer, more just and sustainable trade system
* Promotes and renews York City Fairtrade Status (since 2004)
* Works with Fair Trade faith groups and schools in the York area
* Works with other Fairtrade towns and regions
“Come and join us! Help us spread the word!
We are a friendly bunch. We meet each month at 6pm either on zoom or in the Council offices and would love to see you.
Check out our website at www.fairtradeyork.co.uk.
Follow us on Facebook York Fair Trade Forum.
Email us at contact@fairtradeyork.co.uk.”
Fairer World stock update
Foods
- Cafedirect Machu Picchu instant coffee is out-of-stock at Fairer World and at the warehouses of our suppliers. We are told that the out-of-stock situation of this product is due to ongoing supply and shipping issues so, at the moment, it is not clear when Machu Picchu instant coffee will come back into stock. All other instant coffees on the Fairer World food price list are in stock at Fairer World. The food price list can be viewed and downloaded here.
- We are told that Cafedirect is due to discontinue the following familiar products after Easter: Intense Ground, Lively Ground and Smooth Ground coffees. Fairer World will still have some stock of these products in the short term and will begin stocking some Grumpy Mule ground coffees, starting with organic Honduras ground coffee, which is already on order, followed by organic Sumatran and Peruvian soon after that. More details later.
- Clipper drinking chocolate (add milk) 250g is now in stock at Fairer World.
- Divine drinking chocolate (add milk) is out-of-stock at Fairer World and appears to have been discontinued by Divine.
- Tropical Wholefoods pineapple and Just 5 pineapple & cashew bars are now back in stock at Fairer World.
- True Origin Malawi brown rice is out-of-stock at Fairer World and at the warehouse of our supplier, True Origin. What is worse, True Origin has recently told us that they will not be importing any brown rice in 2025 due to having lots of white rice in stock. Fairer World has long-dated Malawi white rice available.
- Wish4 Fair Trade demerara sugar, golden granulated sugar and raisins are now all in stock at Fairer World, with Wish4 Fair Trade classic oat biscuits and lemon biscuits on order. These are expected to arrive at Fairer World shortly.
- Zaytoun olive oil 250ml and 500ml sizes are out-of-stock at Fairer World and at Zaytoun’s warehouse. They are expected to become available again by the end of this month.
Non-foods back in stock at Fairer World
- A restock of all the available designs of the Palestinian pottery, handmade andpainted in Hebron.
- A restock of Palestinian olive wood crafts from Bethlehem.
- A restock of silver jewellery from Bali will soon be on the way to us: earrings, rings and studs.
- A small supply of handmade Easter cards from the Philippines is in stock. We are looking for more Easter cards.
- Lots of bamboo mix and some organic cotton socks are on order from Thought, expected to arrive soon.
- More supplies of everyday single cards supporting fair trade and also supporting Fairer World are on the card spinners at Fairer World.
- More supplies of fair trade handmade embroidered cards from Bangladesh, painted cards from India and lokta cards from Nepal are now in stock.
Short-dated / beyond date reduced price products
There are a few short dated / beyond date reduced price food items at Fairer World, including Malawi white rice, flapjacks, decaf coffee bags and chocolate truffles but not enough to make it worthwhile to issue a separate price list.
Moira and Charlie