AN ambitious bid to make trade fairer for disadvantaged producers in the developing world has been launched in Felixstowe.

AN ambitious bid to make trade fairer for disadvantaged producers in the developing world has been launched in Felixstowe.

Shoppers in the town are being encouraged to take part in a special competition aimed at promoting Fairtrade products.

The event is part of Fairtrade Fortnight which is being staged to help make Felixstowe a Fairtrade Town.

A campaign group is working to promote the project and has written to all businesses and organisations encouraging them to use products which will ensure Third World farmers get a fair deal for their goods.

Secretary of the forum, Stephen Wyatt said: “We are very pleased at the support we have had this year in organising events for Fairtrade Fortnight.

“We are particularly grateful to the East of England Co-op for sponsoring our competition. There are a wide variety of shops and cafes selling Fairtrade produce in the town and we hope they will get increased sales as a result of our efforts.

“Buying Fairtrade goods helps ensure that disadvantaged producers in the developing world get a fair price for their produce.

“Part of the profit also goes towards community development.”

The competition, which was launched at the Solar supermarket in Hamilton Road, has nine Fairtrade outlets taking part - Solar, Co-ops in Wadgate Road and Walton, Harambee, Oxfam, the Little Ice Cream Co, the River of Life Café, and Café Libra at the library.

The prize is a hamper of Fairtrade goods, worth £75, which has been donated by the East of England Co-op.

Entry forms are available from the Solar information desk.

To enter, people will have to collect three stickers from the participating outlets when they buy Fairtrade goods and complete a caption saying why they support fair trade.

Would you like to see more shops stock Fairtrade goods? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk