Supporters get to work on status bid

A campaign to make Luton a Fairtrade town will be put to the council this week.

Grassroots and Luton Council of Faiths are leading the movement which would see the town promote products bearing the Fairtrade mark.

At the full Luton Borough Council meeting on Tuesday night councillors will consider a motion to support the campaign.

The first part of the process is for the council to start using Fairtrade products, such as coffee, in its meetings and canteen.

The council would have to appoint an officer and a councillor to liaise with the Fairtrade Steering Group.

Fairtrade is a tool for development that ensures disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries get a better deal when customers buy their products.

David Jonathan, of Grassroots, said: “This campaign was first launched in 2007.

“We get into the community as much as possible and we even have the UK’s first Fairtrade Hindu temple in Luton along with churches and Luton’s synagogue.

“The campaign will end in 2011 at some point when we have achieved Fairtrade status for the town.

“I am very pleased with how it has gone so far and it is a very awarding and satisfying process.”