Fair trade is up in Belgium

Belgians bought 861 tonnes of Fair Trade coffee in 2004. That is 1.7% of all coffee sold in Belgian shops in that year.

Fair Trade bananas are doing even better with a rise in sales of some 50% in 2004.

Total sales in ethically sound products in Belgium amounted to some 20 million euros in 2004.

Dirk Steurs from the coffee brand, Max Havelaar, even dares to suggest that the figures for 2005 are up on those of the year before.

Fair Trade is not only increasing in popularity in Belgium; European retailers sold some 660 million euros of Fair Trade products which is twice as much as five years ago.

Ethical choices while doing the weekly shopping is well established in such countries as Great Britain and Switzerland.

Sustainable development

There is still plenty of room for improvement in new EU member states and sales of Fair Trade products remain in their infancy in Greece, Spain and Portugal.

Fair Trade brands such as Max Havelaar guarantee that producers receive a fair price for their goods.

This mainly affects small scale farmers who also receive training and support to develop sustainable farming practices.

Belgium current boasts around 700 supermarkets and 295 specialised shops where Fair Trade products are readily available.