On Saturday the 10th of May, Oundle town celebrated its one year anniversary of being announced as a Fairtrade Town. In celebration of this occasion St Peter’s Church held a Fairtrade Market from 9am to 2pm.

In order for the town to be granted its Fairtrade status, a representative collection of shops and eating establishments must sell fair trade produce. This was easily achieved with Beans, the Co-op, Oxfam and Coffee Tavern to name just a few businesses who routinely use or sell fair trade products.

As well as having businesses selling Fairtrade produce, Oundle town also needed a selection of work places which distribute Fairtrade produce, the two local schools of Prince William and Oundle School seemed ideal candidates for this task.

Oundle School’s involvement in the Fairtrade cause is rather measly, with small contributions such as Fairtrade coffee served in the staff room. The reason for this is that the price of vegetables and meat has increased considerably nationwide putting pressure on food budgets.

Prince William School does have fair-trade produce on offer for their staff and in some foods sold to pupils, but there is comparatively less room for over-expenditure on the more highly priced Fairtrade produce from the state budget.

The way in which Fairtrade product works is quite simple; the Fairtrade company offers the farmers or craftsmen who create the produce a set price that their goods shall be bought for. This price does not fluctuate against world market variations.

Although all of this seems to be very much a good thing, some groups, such as the Adam Smith Institute and a selection of economists regard Fairtrade products as a nuisance, as they distort the market by avoiding fluctuations or decreases in prices.