The Isle of Man’s Fairtrade Group is holding a Fairtrade information and tabletop sale at the Strand Shopping Centre this weekend to mark the end of Fairtrade Fortnight 2015.

A wide range of Fairtrade foodstuffs, household goods and crafts will be available as well as information about Fairtrade and how it helps farmers and producers in developing countries. Fairtrade chocolate can be sampled, courtesy of the Manx Co-operative, who are also loaning the Group the Co-op smoothie bike to make pedal-powered Fairtrade banana smoothies.

The Isle of Man Fairtrade Group won a top award at the end of last year from the Fairtrade Foundation for its annual Fairtrade Primary School Conference and children at schools around the Island have been busy working on Fairtrade projects over the past two weeks as a result of attending this year’s conference in January.

Some young people have also been making recordings on Fairtrade for Manx Radio’s Thought for the Day. These have been broadcast along with recordings from members of the Fairtrade Group.

Buying Fairtrade-labelled products ensures the producers, typically small-scale farmers in developing countries, are paid a fair price for their goods. They also receive an additional Fairtrade Premium which is spent either on making their businesses more sustainable or improving healthcare, education or employment prospects for their communities.

For more information about Fairtrade and where you can buy Fairtrade products on the Isle of Man visit: www.iom.selectfairtrade.co.uk.