Fair Trade products selling well in NZ

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Fair trade certified products are booming in New Zealand, despite rising food prices and low consumer confidence, latest figures reveal.

Fairtrade certified - an international organisation that campaigns for sustainable and ethically farmed products - reported New Zealand sales more than doubled from $17.8 million to $36.6 million year-on-year to the year ended February 1, 2011.

The company found fair trade chocolate had soared year-on-year to February 1 by 1625 per cent, this was in part aided by increased awareness about the product and the sale of it by Cadbury and Whittaker's.

Fairtrade New Zealand's annual results show $18 million worth of coffee was bought, $400,000 of tea, $17.2 million worth of chocolate and $1 million worth of combined cotton, bananas and other products, such as footballs and sugar.

In 2005, $2 million was spent on coffee, while only $57,500 was spent on fair trade chocolate.

Fairtrade New Zealand chief executive Stephen Knapp said that, despite the worldwide recession, fair trade products continued to grow in popularity among consumers.

"Consumers feel other people in the world have it harder, so fair trade continues to grow because it's supporting farmers in the developing world. This is a customer-driven movement."

Knapp said fair trade empowered farmers and workers to take control of their businesses and create greater opportunities for their communities.

"This means access to fair and stable prices and money to invest in everyday things for their communities, such as building classrooms and clinics, employing a nurse or building a road to get their produce to market."

Knapp said the increase in sales reflected the importance New Zealand consumers were placing on sustainable sourcing of everyday products.

"Kiwi shoppers recognise the real and positive difference Fairtrade makes in giving developing country farmers and workers a fair go and are voting with their shopping dollar accordingly."

More than 50 businesses are licensed to trade in fair trade certified products, with most trading in coffee.

Facts and figures

Fair trade sales have increased by 100%.

Sales up $18.8 million year-on-year to Feb 2011.

Chocolate is the fastest growing fair trade product in NZ.