Christmas Fair

Here's the Fairtrade Group, justly proud of their achievements at the eighth Fairtrade Christmas Fair, as Hay-on-Wye's certificate to renew the Fairtrade status arrives.
As usual, there were lots of different Fairtrade goods to choose from, music from the Black Lion Singers and Hay Primary School Choir, and the Fair was officially opened by Hay's Mayor, Fiona Howard, with the help of George the Town Cryer.

Hay's Fairtrade Status Has Been Renewed!

Good news just in time for the Christmas Fair! Hay has now been a Fairtrade town since 2007 - and this will be the eighth Christmas Fair.
Everyone has worked hard to achieve this, especially Louise from Eighteen Rabbit.
There's more to do, of course - it's surprisingly difficult to find Fairtrade coffee served at any of the cafes in Hay at the moment (and Hay has quite a lot of cafes).

Christmas Fair

Planning for the Christmas Fair

....is well under way!

Fiona Howard, the current Mayor, will officially open the Fair, and George the Town Cryer will be in attendance.
The Hay, Brecon and Talgarth refugee group will be doing the refreshments this year.
Chris Armstrong will have some Christmas trees available again.
And of course there will be the usual mix of interesting stalls selling Fairtrade products.

The last meeting of the committee also discussed the fact that it is no longer possible to get a cup of Fairtrade coffee in Hay, despite the large number of cafes. Out of 14 cafes only one met the requirements to be listed as Fairtrade, by providing four different Fairtrade products. However, there are ten possible bed and breakfast establishments that can be listed.

In October, it's time to renew the Fairtrade Town accreditation, which went very smoothly two years ago, and hopefully will go smoothly again. Hay has now been a Fairtrade Town for eight years.

The next Fairtrade meeting will be at 6pm on Sunday 16th October at Tomatitos.

Africa Market

The Hay Festival is coming up at the end of this week, and once again an Africa Market has been organised at the Parish Hall on Sunday 29th May. Fairtrade Hay will be there, and so will Love Zimbabwe and other stalls and activities, including drumming.

Then on Monday 30th there will be a Refugee Market, again with activities including Syrian calligraphy - and a Paddington Bear picnic (bring a teddy!).

Competition Time

Fairtrade Fortnight at the Old Electric Shop

The Old Electric Shop is hosting a second Fairtrade breakfast on March 10th, and with this voucher you can get free Fairtrade tea or coffee.

Fairtrade for Breakfast

Fairtrade Fortnight is coming up soon - this year it runs from 29th February to 13th March - and the theme this year is Breakfast!
Breakfast ingredients come from all around the world - and some of those people who supply our breakfast tables can't afford to feed their own families. Fairly traded food can help to support those farmers and other workers who produce the products we need - sugar on your cornflakes, tea and coffee, fruit, and much more.
So come to The Old Electric Shop on Thursday 3rd March and Thursday 10th March for a Fairtrade breakfast.
Many cafes in Hay also serve Fairtrade coffee - look for the Fairtrade sign in the window, or ask.
And if you're looking for a Valentine's Day gift, try something fairly traded from Eighteen Rabbit.