Fairtrade Fortnight

The next FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT will be from Monday 21 September – Sunday 4 October 2026.

Fairtrade Fortnight gives us the opportunity to celebrate the farmers and workers who grow the food we eat and make the things we love.

Fairtrade forms the fabric of fair and just trading systems across the globe. Yet, powering Fairtrade and protecting the livelihoods of producers can start right at home, with the things we buy and invest in, and the principles we embody in our day-to-day lives.

When you choose Fairtrade, you are supporting:

Fair prices and decent working conditions
Environmentally-friendly farming practices
A strong voice for farmers and workers
Gender equality and a better future for young people

So next time you see the Fairtrade mark in the shop, know that it is more than just a label, it is an assurance of the far-reaching positive impacts of your purchase.

Image: Fiorella Anchiraico Montalvo, a Fairtrade sphagnum moss producer working with Inka Moss in Peru. Fiorella began collecting moss eight years ago to earn an income to support her family.

Invest today

Transform lives

Shared Interest investors share a vision of a world where justice is at the heart of trade finance.

We form the vital link between ethical investors in the UK and fair trade enterprises around the world.

Join us and help farmers and artisans to earn a living, feed their families and build thriving communities.

Invest

Invest in a fairer world

ECOOKIM are one of the largest cocoa co-operatives in Côte d'Ivoire, supporting over 32,000 members with their production and export of cocoa and cashew nuts.

Members farm over 85,000 hectares of cocoa, spread across four regions of Côte d'Ivoire, providing around 70% of the household income for those living in these regions.

These rural communities have high levels of unemployment, poor healthcare and an influx of migrants from neighbouring countries such as Mali, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria, who are looking for economic opportunities.

ECOOKIM's vision is to ensure that cocoa farmers receive a greater share of the cocoa supply chain by selling directly in the international cocoa market.

Shared Interest and ECOOKIM

Through the power of our members' ethical investments, Shared Interest has been able to support ECOOKIM since 2014, delivering fair finance to pay members for their cocoa when they need it, build warehouses, purchase vehicles and invest in education, health facilities, water and sanitation.

President at ECOOKIM Ouattara Adama Aboulaye told us:

“The finance from Shared Interest has been utilised to support investment in diversification projects, farm maintenance and certification. The Fairtrade Premium is used for members Living Income Differential.”

Fairtrade and ECOOKIM

Fairtrade standards offer various provisions and benefits to ECOOKIM, including:

An additional Fairtrade Premium of $200 per tonne for investment in community, business and environmental projects.
An extra $300 per tonne for Fairtrade Certified organic cocoa beans.
Environmental standards to promote sound agricultural practices involving waste management, soil fertility, water use and more.
Prohibition of forced labour and child labour.

Here are some more examples of how Fairtrade Premium has supported ECOOKIM:

Two central warehouses were constructed, serving three co-operatives.
A truck was purchased by CAPEDIG co-operative for the collection and delivery of coffee beans.
Organic fertilisers were provided to increase the sustainability of cocoa production.
Disease control, pesticides, spraying equipment and personal protective equipment were provided.
Training programmes were developed to improve productivity and quality.
Educational programmes were developed to raise awareness of child labour issues.

Fairtrade represents the voices of two million small-scale farmers and workers. Learn more about how we support Fairtrade organisations here.

Aminata Bamba, ECOOKIM Sustainable Development Programme Manager, said:

“We have been using the Fairtrade Premium to set up primary schools so the children are looked after while the women go to work.”

Image: Aminata Bamba is in charge of ECOOKIM's Sustainable Development Programme. She is pictured here at one of the co-operative's warehouses.

Take part in the Newcastle Fairtrade Trail

Find local gems, get your steps and win Fairtrade prizes while supporting the world's makers and growers, with Newcastle's Fairtrade Trail. For two special weeks, take part in The Fairtrade Trail, a first-of-its-kind activity which will guide people through the canny streets of Newcastle and to the city's finest Fairtrade-supporting establishments, ranging from independent shops to cozy cafes and community spaces.

How can I take part?

Visit any of the venues on our dedicated Fairtrade Trail Map during Fairtrade Fortnight 2026 and find the fair trade themed artwork on display. Take a picture and share it with us for your chance to win a selection of Fairtrade prizes, including a hamper of fabulous treats and gifts from our friends at Liberation, Ethiqana, Zaytoun and The Co-op.

Where is the Trail taking place?

You can find participating venues across the city, from Heaton, Byker and Jesmond, to Ouseburn, the Quayside and the City Centre. Find a full map of participating venues, here.