Oswestry and District Fairtrade Group

                            

The official launch was held in the Guildhall in July 2006 when the two mayors, Councillors Martin Bennett and Bill Keable, and the North Shropshire MP, Owen Paterson, paid tribute to the town for its excellent support for farmers both in the developing world and locally.

OSWESTRY OFFICIALLY DECLARED A FAIRTRADE TOWN

 

Oswestry is proud to be part of the Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition which has recently led a successful campaign to have the whole of Shropshire, Telford and The Wrekin declared a Fairtrade county.

Now read on about Fairtrade in Oswestry together with details of all the Fairtrade and local produce outlets in the town and a complete list of Fairtrade products on sale.

Why Fairtrade?      Oswestry and District Fairtrade Group     Useful Contacts

Where Can You Buy Fairtrade Products in Oswestry?

Shops in Oswestry     Cafes in Oswestry    What About Local Farmers and Producers?

Shops Outside Oswestry      Recipes

WHY FAIRTRADE?

Fairtrade guarantees a fair deal for producers in the poorest countries in the world.  We can make a big difference to these people’s lives by just going shopping.  For every £1 we give to poor countries in aid, £2 is lost because of unfair trade.  Fairtrade starts to put that right and it doesn’t rely on charity.

Here’s how it works.  Buying products that carry the Fairtrade mark helps to lift over 5 million farmers, workers and their families out of dire poverty.  And it’s not just the money they earn.  Fairtrade builds wells for fresh water, gets children to school, ensures good working conditions, protects the environment and builds sustainable communities.

OSWESTRY AND DISTRICT FAIRTRADE GROUP

Our Fairtrade group is entirely voluntary and was formed in October 2004 with like-minded people, all passionate about Fairtrade.  We are delighted that Oswestry is now officially - and deservedly - a Fairtrade Town.  We shall carry on working to increase awareness of Fairtrade and try to reach a wider audience.

We are very grateful to the Co-op Community Dividend Scheme for its help in funding the group's Fairtrade activities.

USEFUL CONTACTS

For more information, please contact Val Talbot on (01691) 791310 or email val@daval.demon.co.uk 

Fairtrade Foundation: www.fairtrade.org.uk

Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition: www.shropshirefairtrade.org.uk

WHERE CAN YOU BUY FAIRTRADE PRODUCTS IN OSWESTRY?

Fairtrade is growing fast, with sales increasing by over 50% every year.  The 4 most popular products are still tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas but the range is expanding all the time.  True, you sometimes have to pay more but if you saw the difference between a small Fairtrade farm and a pesticide soaked plantation with workers on starvation wages, you would be glad to pay the difference.

We are well blessed in Oswestry with 10 shops selling a wide range of Fairtrade products, together with 9 catering outlets where you can stop and relax over a delicious cup of Fairtrade coffee or tea.  Click on the name of the shop for a full list of the products they sell - we think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

SHOPS IN OSWESTRY   

Click on the name .........

 

 

 

     Christian Bookshop

 

 

 

 

 

Co-op Castle Street    

Christian Bookshop

Co-op, Castle Street 

Co-op, Cabin Lane

Co-op, Gobowen Road

Co-op, Victoria Street

Honeysuckle

Local Feast

Marks and Spencer Simply Food

Momentum Wines  

Sainsbury’s 

Somerfield

Momentum Wines

 

 

 

Sainsburys           

 

 

              Honeysuckle

 Gillhams in Church Street sells Fairtrade chocolate and Aldi often has Fairtrade bananas and other items on sale.

CAFES IN OSWESTRY

Aroma - all coffees and teas are Fairtrade

Café Milano – All coffee and breakfast tea are Fairtrade, Day’s Divine chocolate bars

Christian Bookshop – all drinks and snacks are Fairtrade

Costa Coffee, The Cross - Fairtrade coffee on request

Denbighs Restaurant at the Orthopaedic Hospital, Gobowen - Fairtrade coffee, chocolate and topping,  Geobars, Divine chocolate bars and cookies. Fruit juice

Pickles – All coffees are Fairtrade (all teas will be shortly)

Shropshire Poacher – Fairtrade tea and decaffeinated coffee

Tavernae Bar and Restaurant, 12 Salop Road, Oswestry - Fairtrade wine and coffee

The George, Bailey Head - All coffee is Fairtrade

If you can’t find what you want, PLEASE ASK.  It is vital that shops and cafes know that we want to buy goods with the Fairtrade mark.

 

Aroma - Shropshire Star report

WHAT ABOUT LOCAL FARMERS AND PRODUCERS?

Trade should be fair to all and we want to see fair remuneration for our own local farmers and producers.  Buying local produce helps to re-establish links between producers and consumers and to increase access to fresh, healthy food and drink.  We are lucky to have the opportunity to buy a wide and varied range from a number of outlets in Oswestry:

Country Market on Wednesday mornings in the Memorial Hall

Farmers’ Market on the last Friday in the month on the Outdoor Market

Honeysuckle, 53 Church Street

Local Feast - weekly delivery from Ruralscapes

See separate web pages for Honeysuckle and Local Feast by clicking on Honeysuckle or Local Feast and, for more information log on to their own websites:

Local Feast: www.ruralscapes.co.uk  

Honeysuckle: www.honeysuckle-wholefoods.co.uk

WILD GARLIC: OSWESTRY AND BORDERS GOOD FOOD GUIDE

For articles and information on local producers, retail and catering outlets, and other matters of interest to everyone who likes good food and cares about how and where it is produced, log on to: www.wildgarlic.co.uk and look out for their magazine called "Wild Garlic".

SHOPS OUTSIDE OSWESTRY

Ellesmere - Acorn Organics, Christian Bookshop, Co-op and Ellesmere Health Foods

Co-op, Gobowen

Co-op, Pant

Stan's Supermarket, St Martin's

League of Friends' shop at the Orthopaedic Hospital

Derwen College shop

RECIPES 

Fairtrade Banana Chutney (makes 3lb/1.5kg)

12 Fairtrade bananas, chopped

1lb (0.5kg) green tomatoes, chopped

8oz (225g) onions, chopped

8oz (225g) Fairtrade seedless raisins

2 de-seeded green or red peppers, cut into thin strips

8oz (225g) Fairtrade brown sugar 

½ pint (275ml) vinegar

3 to 4 level teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

Put all ingredients in pan and bring to boil, stirring.

Simmer gently, uncovered, until it is the consistency of jam (about 1½ to 2 hours).  Stir from time to time.

Keeps indefinitely and tastes delicious.

 

 

 

Fairtrade Chocolate Slices (makes 24)

1½ tablespoons Fairtrade cocoa

5oz (150g) margarine or butter

1½ tablespoons golden syrup

handful Fairtrade dried fruit (any)

4oz (100g) Fairtrade soft brown sugar

6oz (175g) rich tea biscuits, crushed

6oz (175g) Fairtrade chocolate 

Melt all ingredients, except for crushed biscuits and chocolate.

Add biscuits and mix well.

Spread evenly into greased and lined tin 7 x 11in (18 x 27cm)

Chill until firm in frig

Melt chocolate and spread over top.

Chill again until firm and cut into slices.

Can be frozen (if you can keep your hands off them) and taste even better straight from the freezer on a hot day.

Pina Colada with a Fairtrade Twist

Fairtrade pineapple, cut into chunks

Fairtrade coconut, grated

3fl.oz (85ml) double cream

1fl.oz (25ml) Fairtrade rum - use Fairtrade orange juice for a non-alcoholic alternative

handful of ice

Place the ingredients in a blender and blend until combined.

Serve immediately in a glass, decorated with a pineapple wedge - and pretend you're on holiday!

We'll keep changing this section as there are lots more Fairtrade recipes to try and enjoy.