Four Welsh towns, Aberaeron, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llanelli and Prestatyn, are all just one-step away from attaining Fairtrade Town status and could potentially take the title.
They face competition from Basingstoke and Deane Borough in England and Fife in Scotland who are also close to gaining their Fair Trade status.
Kate Meakin, the Fair Trade Development Officer for Fair Trade Wales said:
‘Wales now has four opportunities to take this title. All four towns are really close to gaining their Fairtrade Town status. Wales already leads the UK in Fair Trade issues, it would be great if we could be the 500th Fairtrade Town as well!’
Mike Smith, the secretary of the Prestatyn & Meliden Fairtrade Steering Group said:
‘Gaining Fairtrade status is just the beginning: we want to bring Fairtrade into every aspect of community life It would be great to be the 500th town; but in the end, it’s the supporting of Fairtrade which is all that matters.’
A Fairtrade Town is a community that has made a commitment to supporting Fairtrade and disadvantaged farmers and communities in the developing world.
Fairtrade products will be widely available, bought and used throughout the town and a commitment will have been made to increasing sales and awareness further still through promotional and educational activities.
Wales currently has 43 Fair Trade Towns and a further 30 have signed up to the scheme.
