Cumbria celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight in style with Hugo, a Peruvian coffee farmer!
Cumbrian Fairtrade campaigners are celebrating the achievements of the county's Fairtrade Fortnight (24th Feb - 8th March). Carlisle Fairtrade have also celebrated the 15th anniversary of the city achieving Fairtrade Status.
Groups were delighted to welcome a Fairtrade producer this year: Hugo Javier Guerrero is a coffee farmer cooperative in Peru, who spent two days in Cumbria last week.
Peruvian coffee farmer heads to the Lake District National Park offices
He spent Thursday visiting schools in South Lakeland, including the Lakes School in Windermere. and also popped into the Lake District National Park to give a talk to staff and visitors there. The Lake District National Park is the first national park to be a Fairtrade National Park Zone.
Martin Sleath, the Northern Rep to the Fairtrade Campaigners' Committee, welcomed Hugo and the audience before giving a very succinct and interesting presentation on the LDNP and its Fairtrade status. Hugo Gerrerro who, assisted by an interpreter, gave a wonderfully inspiring and visually informative talk, speaking of how his now 72-year-old father, seeing the benefits of gaining Fairtrade status for his collective, gained hard-earned Certification in 1998. These benefits have meant a better standard of living for many families, including housing, education and equality, so enabling Hugo to attend university in Lima.
Hugo is now implementing new ways of working, for instance: organic pulping; teaching others; introducing diversification and sustainable farming techniques, such as agro-foresting, which also help to mitigate climate change. Women in the community have gained equality and formed an Association of Women Weavers, now grow fruit and vegetables to provide further income.
Hugo stressed that ethical Fairtrade support in Peru has been gained by 7000 producers and gives hope for long-term benefits. He ended his very interesting and, at times, moving talk, by showing us a delightful picture of his family in their home setting.
Special events in Carlisle
On Friday morning, Hugo visited a local Fairtrade cafe and coffee supplier, John Watt and Son, at their Blackfriars St café. At a very special coffee morning, he met the Mayor, Cllr Marilyn Bowman and her consort, Syd. He joined a group of over 20 Fairtrade supporters in tasting the café’s Fairtrade coffee of the month, a Peruvian blend, and again delivered his presentation about his family’s coffee farm and the work he does supporting local farmers. He also discussed how he is developing organic solutions to tackle climate change and promote sustainable agriculture, as well as how being part of a Fairtrade co-operative has particularly helped his local community and improved the lives of local families.
School Fairtrade bake-off
Later on, Hugo joined representatives of the Fairtrade Foundation and Carlisle Fairtrade at a unique Fairtrade schools Bake-off event at James Rennie School. There he met the High Sherriff of Cumbria, Marcia Reid-Fotheringham, as well as students from seven local schools who did a fantastic job of baking and showcasing delicious cakes using mainly Fairtrade ingredients, donated by the Co-Op food stores in Blackwell Road, Currock, and Lazonby.
The schools who took part were:
Irthington Village School
Newlaithes Junior School
Lazonby CofE School
Stanwix School
Raughton Head CofE School
Ireby CofE School,
James Rennie School.
Each school chose a Fairtrade recipe, which they prepared and baked under true Bake-off conditions before presenting their cakes, muffins or biscuits for judging by all participants.
Newlaithes School's Malteser bisuit cakes were chosen as the winner and its students were presented with gift vouchers for Carlisle World Shop by Mrs Reid-Fotheringham. Hugo then spoke to the students about Peru and how Fairtrade has helped his community.
It was an unforgettable morning for the students and the High Sheriff also particularly enjoyed taking part saying: ‘I was completely honoured to be invited and included.’
