Go Bananas campaign pack - The Fairtrade Foundation

Welcome 

The finale of Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 

will be huge, bringing together the 

whole Fairtrade movement from 

producers to school children. From 

noon on Friday 6 March to noon on 

Saturday 7 March, a new world record 

will be set for simultaneous Fairtrade 

banana eating over a 24 hour period – 

each participant will eat one banana. 

All over the world, Fairtrade producer 

groups and supporters will be 

taking part. 

CAMPAIGN PACK

Go BANANAS! 

This guide has all you need to know about organising 

a successful banana eating event. It includes top tips, 

ideas and information about the banana industry, and 

details on how to get your hands on enough Fairtrade 

bananas for your event. 

Organising a Go Bananas for Fairtrade! event is a fun 

and effective way to tell your community about Fairtrade 

bananas. It can involve lots of people, get great media 

coverage and recruit new members to your group. 

In 2008, the Fairtrade Foundation published Tipping 

the Balance – an ambitious strategy laying out what 

the Foundation wants to achieve by 2012. We want to 

double the number of Fairtrade bananas sold in the UK 

by 2012, so that at least half of all bananas deliver 

Fairtrade premiums to enable growers to improve their 

lives. This would directly benefit producer communities 

and send a strong message to our government, retailers 

and companies about how we want trade to work. 

You’ll be able register for the event and find out all the 

latest news and updates on the world record attempt 

at www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas. A report on the 

banana industry and the positive difference brought 

about by Fairtrade will be available soon, so please keep 

checking the website. 

We don’t want your charity, we want to 

earn a decent living without relying on 

handouts. For us to earn a living, we need 

people to buy our Fairtrade fruit. I hope 

people begin to see that they can make a 

real difference to the lives of thousands of 

real people by making a simple decision 

when they shop. 

Marcella Harris, banana farmer, Windward Islands 

coNteNtS: 

BrilliANt BANANA eveNt ideAS 

PlANNiNG your eveNt 

the Need for fAirtrAde BANANAS 

imPAct – hoW fAirtrAde helPS 

BiteSized BANANA fActS 

GettiNG your BANANAS 

fuNdiNG tiPS 

SAmPle PreSS releASe 

reciPe ideAS

BrilliANt BANANA 

eveNt ideAS 

A great way to involve even more people 

in the banana record attempt is to hold an 

event. Make it fun and Make it Happen! 

Don’t forget to register to take part 

www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas 

Banana sports 

Hold a banana-themed fun & games, with banana fishing 

(like ‘hook a duck’ – but with floating plastic bananas), 

banana jousting – battle for trade justice using inflatable 

bananas, or a banana hurdle relay. You’ll need two 

tracks, one with high hurdles and one with low hurdles. 

Give the hurdles titles such as ‘unstable world prices’ 

‘unfair subsidies’ or ‘lack of market access’. The team 

tackling the low hurdles has a Fairtrade banana baton to 

make it easier to overcome the challenges small farmers 

face, while the team with the high hurdles has an ‘unfair’ 

banana. Why not organise a banana dash with people 

running through an area dressed in yellow? Or a banana 

tour with people visiting key locations in your town with 

inflatable bananas? 

Good for people, good for planet and good 

for your health 

Have a banana, it’s one step to your five a day target 

for a healthy lifestyle. A perfect way to showcase this, 

perhaps in a local school, is to tie your event in with 

healthy eating. Whizz up some Fairtrade banana 

smoothies to encourage people to take part. 

cook for change 

Bananas star in many tasty recipes and food tasting 

events are always popular. You could offer a taste of a 

variety of recipes containing Fairtrade bananas – and 

then combine it with a competition to find your area’s top 

banana chef. Try asking local restaurants to use Fairtrade 

bananas in their dishes or hold your very own banana 

breakfast in a large local workplace. Local celebrities 

love a challenge. Suggest a 24-hour banana-thon with 

every meal they eat containing a Fairtrade banana. 

Check the recipe section for ideas.

BrilliANt BANANA eveNt ideAS 

Banana fun 

Dress up, have fun and campaign for trade justice. 

Throw a fancy dress banana party or a sponsored dress 

as a banana day to raise money. An excellent event for a 

community or school is a banana-themed treasure hunt 

or a pin the Fairtrade banana on the map game. If you 

are feeling very adventurous, how about organising a 

Fairtrade banana flash mob? 

Banana wars! 

You might know of other local Fairtrade Towns taking 

part in the world record attempt, so why not challenge 

them to see which area can get the most people 

eating Fairtrade bananas? It should secure you some 

great local press coverage especially if the two places 

have an historic rivalry – think Oxford v Cambridge 

or Manchester v Liverpool. Stage the events in a 

prominent public space – think town centres or local 

football grounds! If you are at a university hold a banana 

‘boat race’, seeing which team can eat Fairtrade 

bananas the fastest – it’s a great way to get 

students involved! 

Bite sized banana events 

• Sell Fairtrade bananas at work on 6 March 

• Theme a school assembly 

• Invite friends for lunch, dinner or breakfast and 

feed them Fairtrade bananas 

• Check out the online events calendar for other 

events to attend 

toP tiP: BANANA PArtNerS 

Invite the following organisations to get involved 

with your event: sports clubs, sport centres, youth 

groups, schools, supermarkets, NHS and other 

international development campaign groups such 

as the World Development Movement, Oxfam or 

People & Planet. 

Please don’t forget to take pictures of your event 

and upload at www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas 

or email them to shareyourstory@fairtrade.org.uk


theme 

Be as creative as you like. You could have a Caribbean 

theme – how about booking a calypso band to get the 

party atmosphere going? 

think about: 

• Timing – who do you want to come and when will suit 

them? 

• Venue – can you fit the event in? It must be large 

enough for lots of people to attend. Does it have 

disabled access? Don’t forget to think about transport 

links and parking. 

• Job roles – who will do what on the day? Who will 

compere? Will you need stewards? 

• Outdoor events are very popular, but always have a 

back-up plan in case the weather takes a turn for the 

worse! 

other ideas 

Investigate town centres and other prominent outdoor 

venues, football stadiums, student unions, restaurants, 

pubs or bars, working men’s clubs, town halls and 

community centres – always keep in mind who you want 

to reach and where the largest footfall will be. When 

looking for a venue, you will probably have to book well 

in advance. 

Make sure you have access to your venue well before 

participants start arriving so you have time to set up, 

decorate and prepare. 

Publicity 

Good publicity is essential. How can you grab the 

attention of your local media? Could the mayor or a local 

celebrity open proceedings by eating the first banana? 

Send out press releases (our template press release can 

be found in this guide) to local newspapers and invite 

journalists along for a free banana and a chance to 

be a record breaker. Design posters and leaflets and 

display them in local shop windows, across the 

university campus, or in local sports clubs or community 

centres. Download Go Bananas for Fairtrade flyers 

from www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas. 

Order and customise Fairtrade event posters from 

www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources. Setting up a 

Facebook event page is a great, inexpensive way to 

tell loads of people about your event. 

register online 

Use www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas to register. 

Please encourage everyone you know – friends, family, 

colleagues, local sports clubs and community groups 

to join in and register. Don’t forget to add your event 

pictures to the site – we’d love to see how it went. 

how many people? 

When you register you’ll be asked how many people will 

be at your event – you can estimate the number. If more 

people came than expected, please return to the website 

and register again, adding the additional people. 

For more tips and advice, please see the Fairtrade 

Fortnight Action Guide (order or download from 

www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources). 

If you are holding an banana eating event in Wales or 

would like a Welsh language translation of this guide 

then please contact Fair Trade Wales on 

info@fairtradewales.com or phone 07882 680113. Fair 

Trade Wales can offer help, support and Welsh resources 

for your event. Go to www.fairtradewales.com for more 

information.


case study: Ashbourne 

In Fairtrade Fortnight 2008, Fairtrade Town Ashbourne 

in Derbyshire organised a world record attempt for 

simultaneous banana eating. A total of 361 people (and 

one dog!) took part in the event. Stuart Green, chair of 

Ashbourne Fairtrade Initiative, explains how they made 

the record happen. 

What worked well about your event? 

The way it caught people’s imaginations – people of all 

ages and those not involved in Fairtrade. Having people 

in banana suits running around Ashbourne’s Victoria 

Square beforehand helped attract people on the day – 

and also provided some of the most memorable press 

photos! 

What are your three top tips for a group who want to 

organise a banana eating event? 

1. Plan big – Estimate how many people you think you’ll 

attract and then get at least double that number of 

bananas. 

2. Spread the word – get your press release to every 

local and regional media outlet (TV, radio, newspapers) 

and be ready to do live broadcasts at all hours of 

the day. 

3. Be prepared – think through every eventuality and 

make sure you have plenty of stewards who have 

been well briefed on what to do. 

What do you think your event achieved? 

For Ashbourne, the benefits were that it made Fairtrade 

the talk of the town. It seemed everyone was talking 

about the banana world record – and helped show the 

town that our campaign was about raising the profile of 

Ashbourne too. For farmers, it helped spread the word 

of Fairtrade wider than we had imagined possible – and 

in more detail than we had expected too. We used the 

event to repeatedly echo the message that people can 

easily change today by choosing Fairtrade for everyday 

items. 

Finally, what was your favourite memory from 

the day? 

The sight of Ashbourne’s Victoria Square packed full of 

people all doing a countdown from 10 to 1 – only to be 

followed by silence as they munched their bananas!

the Need for 

fAirtrAde BANANAS 

In the past, the banana trade made big 

profits for banana companies, but this 

has declined rapidly in the last decade. 

Most profit is now made at the top of the 

supply chain by increasingly powerful 

supermarket retailers. They put the 

squeeze on farmers and plantation 

workers at the bottom of the supply 

chain. A series of bitter battles between 

supermarkets over banana prices has 

made conditions in the mainstream 

banana industry miserable. 

In the UK, between 2002 and 2008, the price of loose 

conventional bananas has been cut dramatically in a 

series of price wars by the big supermarkets. One 

supermarket has triggered this spiral five times since 

2002, most recently in May 2008, when it dropped the 

price to 72p per kilo. This was followed by a price of 50p 

for a week-long promotion in June 2008. Every time, 

other supermarkets have followed suit, compounding 

the pressure on the rest of the supply chain. Soon after, 

prices go back up, but someone somewhere pays the 

price for the cuts and usually that’s the growers who are 

often forced to sell their fruit for less than it cost them 

to grow. 

They called us all to a meeting and they 

said that we would all be laid off the next 

day. Then they rehired us for almost half 

the wages. They cut social benefits. We 

used to have almost a month holiday but 

this went down to 14 days. 

Worker at a Costa Rican plantation supplying a major 

UK supermarket 

Price wars are not the only problem for banana 

producers; changing trade rules make life an uphill 

struggle. Historically, the UK has had a strong trade 

relationship with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) 

countries. Caribbean bananas are one of the products 

that have benefited from this special trade relationship, 

allowing small-scale farmers to compete for markets 

with the vast, fertile and flat plantations of Latin America. 

However the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled 

that these special arrangements for ACP countries were 

a barrier to free trade, and so forced the European Union 

(EU) to change its rules to give other countries more 

access to its markets. For small-scale farmers in the 

Caribbean, it is only by securing their special place in our 

markets through Fairtrade, that they have been able to 

weather this reform. 

To make things worse, new trading arrangements 

between the EU and ACP countries, called Economic 

Partnership Agreements (EPAs), pose further challenges. 

EPAs are wide-ranging – in order to secure continued 

access to European markets for exports such as 

bananas and sugar, Caribbean governments are being 

asked to open up other markets such as banking and 

services, and producers fear that this could undermine 

access to affordable credit for small farmers, or the 

amount of government revenues available for investment 

in public services. While the full effects of these trade 

reforms remain to be seen, it is clear that decisions taken 

outside of its control pose serious challenges for the 

banana industry. With all these injustices it is clear that 

Fairtrade is needed now more than ever. 

For more information on the banana trade, please see 


Sources: Action Aid – Who Pays?, Fairtrade Foundation – Banana Report 2009 and Harriet Lamb – Fighting the Banana Wars.

imPAct – 

hoW fAirtrAde helPS 

the importance of fairtrade 

Fairtrade is all about challenging these 

injustices, strengthening the position of 

marginalised farmers and workers and 

enabling them to earn enough for today 

to invest in a better tomorrow. This is 

done by an agreed stable price which 

covers the cost of sustainable 

production and enables them to provide 

for their families (enough for today) and a 

premium which producer organisations 

invest in community projects (a better 

tomorrow). Farmers decide themselves 

how to invest the premium they earn. 

In the Windward Islands banana farmers 

decided to use the premium to improve 

the way they farm, and to build 

community centres, and buy 

equipment for schools. 

There are two different Fairtrade standards which apply 

to the two types of work forces in the banana industry. 

They are Hired Labour standards and Small Farmers’ 

Organisation standards. 

The Small Farmers’ Organisation standards apply 

to small-scale farmers who are organised into 

co-operatives or other groups that have a democratic 

structure and transparent administration. The Fairtrade 

standards encourage the open, democratic and 

participative running of their co-operatives, as well as 

promoting sustainable farming practices. 

Hired Labour standards for plantations are based on 

International Labour Organisation Conventions. They 

require estate or plantation owners to pay decent wages, 

promote the right to join trade unions and provide good 

housing where relevant. Minimum health and safety as 

well as environmental standards must be in operation 

and forced or child labour are both prohibited. Here a 

Joint Body of elected worker representatives, supported 

by farm managers, decide how best to spend their 

premiums. 

The fact that no chemicals are 

used is a benefit not only to our 

workforce but also to the 

environment and that is a very 

positive step forward for all of us. 

Huub van den Broek, Managing Director at Volta 

River Estates Limited 

fairtrade bananas and the environment 

Environmental degradation and climate change are two 

of the most pressing issues facing humanity and they will 

hit the world’s poorest the hardest. Although it’s not the 

only solution, Fairtrade plays an important role in making 

food production more sustainable for people and planet. 

The environmental standards within the Fairtrade system 

are intended to ensure that: 

• Farmers and workers protect their natural environment 

and make environmental protection an integral part of 

farm management 

• Farmers and workers are protected when they work 

with chemicals and dispose of waste 

• Producer organisations are encouraged to work 

towards organic farming practices, when it is socially 

and economically practical 

• The use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides are 

minimised and that they are gradually replaced 

with natural fertilisers and biological methods of 

disease control 

• Genetically modified organisms are prohibited 

Sources: Fairtrade Foundation – Unpeeling the Banana Trade, Vrel Organic – www.vrelorganic.com, Banana Link – The Environmental 

Impact of the Banana Industry.


Volta River Estates (VREL) in Ghana was the first 

Fairtrade certified banana producer in the world, 

supplying bananas to the Netherlands in November 

1996. In 2001 VREL started a conversion process to 

become an organic Fairtrade fruit producer and since 

2005 three of the five plantations are Fairtrade and 

organic. All farming activities at VREL, as a first priority, 

aim to be environmentally friendly and sustainable; this 

philosophy is reflected in all aspects of their production. 

Fairtrade premiums have been used to cut the use of 

harmful herbicides and heavy machinery, ensuring that 

the land is not damaged and creating more employment 

as extra manual labour is needed. 

VREL also use local materials to make compost 

fertiliser for their banana trees. A considerable quantity of 

banana plant waste is also used to improve soil fertility. 

After harvesting, the whole banana plant is cut down, 

chopped up and used as mulch or in compost 

preparation. Mulching helps to conserve water, provide 

soil nutrients, suppress weed growth and minimise soil 

erosion. In 2005 enough compost was produced to feed 

all VREL’s organic banana trees, with enough left over to 

sell to an organic mango grower in north Ghana. 

VREL only uses non-toxic bags to protect its banana 

bunches against insects (many other banana plantations 

use toxic bags); this allows each bag to be used several 

times. VREL, in cooperation with a local recycling 

company, recycles all plastic bags for re-use at the 

plantation. 

As a measure to conserve the environment, buffer zones 

are established at almost all boundaries of the farm. 

Every effort is taken to conserve and improve vegetation 

around water bodies by always maintaining a 30m buffer 

between the farm and these water bodies. VREL works 

with Ghana Water and the Sewage Corporation to ensure 

that the water quality of the Volta River – the main source 

of drinking water for millions of Ghanaians – is not 

affected. 

VREL, with the help of Fairtrade, shows that when 

you choose Fairtrade bananas you enable people in 

developing countries to prepare for a changing future 

and protect the environment around them. 

There is a short film about Fairtrade bananas 

featuring VREL available for campaigners. To borrow a 

copy, contact the Co-op’s customer relations team on 

0800 0686727.


Women in fairtrade 

The benefits of Fairtrade are not just economic and 

environmental. Fairtrade also works towards the 

empowerment of women within male dominated 

societies. Fairtrade standards encourage women’s 

representation on the Joint Body or Fairtrade premium 

committee by requiring proportional representation 

wherever possible. Significant women’s representation 

in decision making means that women’s needs and 

perspectives are heard, so that they benefit from the 

extra income from Fairtrade. 

Sylvia Ramirez is a farmer and vice-president of El 

Guabo in Ecuador. Since it formed in 1997, the El Guabo 

Association of Small Banana Producers has changed 

thousands of lives. It is one of the world’s leading 

exporters of Fairtrade bananas. From 4,600 tonnes sold 

to the Fairtrade market in 2000, the association has 

grown to export over 40,000 tonnes in 2006. With its 

headquarters in the town of El Guabo in the south-west 

of Ecuador, it represents growers from over 400 farms in 

15 different communities. 

Since being able to sell into the Fairtrade market Sylvia, 

who is also a member of the El Guabo Women’s Group, 

speaks of many benefits Fairtrade has brought to her 

and other women in her community. 

Fairtrade has given us the space to organise 

as women – to meet and discuss things. For 

us and our families, for the community and the 

environment, this is the future; it is the way 

forward…. The biggest difference with 

Fairtrade is that before we never had any 

money. We had to take out loans. Now we 

can plan and spend money to improve things 

on the farm. Fairtrade has given us stability. 

Before, we didn’t have that stability. Now we 

can spend on better education for the kids, on 

better groceries for the family, better clothes. 

Our children can go to better schools. We 

always want to get a better education for them. 

Sylvia Ramirez, banana farmer, Ecuador 

Even though a lot has been achieved since El Guabo 

formed, Sylvia believes that there is still a lot more to 

be done: 

“If you want a fairer world you can make it happen… by 

helping disadvantaged producers, buying their products 

and spreading the Fairtrade message. I think the Fairtrade 

premium should be invested in education because an 

educated people is a free people.”

BiteSized BANANA fActS 

did you know? 

• Banana plants are actually giant herbs of the 

same family as lilies, orchids and palms. 

• Wild bananas originated in Asia and have been 

cultivated for more than 4,000 years. 

• Bananas are harvested every day of the year. 

top banana! 

• The banana is the most popular fruit in the world – 

people spend over £10 billion a year on the fruit 

globally. 

• In the UK we eat an average of 156 bananas 

each per year! 

• Around 85% of bananas and plantains are eaten 

locally, contributing to food security in dozens of 

developing countries. 

Not so tasty bits... 

• Banana prices have plummeted, with a devastating 

effect on banana producers. In November 1997, 

bananas cost an average of £1.08 per kg in UK 

supermarkets. In June 2008 that price was as low 

as 50p per kg. 

• The majority of banana plantation workers do not earn 

enough to live and support their families – some earn 

less than £1 per day. 

A fairer fruit 

• Fairtrade bananas were launched in 1994, and now 

one in four bananas sold in the UK is Fairtrade. 

• In Switzerland and the UK, you can find Fairtrade 

bananas in all major supermarkets. 

• Fairtrade bananas now come from: Colombia, Costa 

Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Peru and 

the Windward Islands. 

healthy eating - Good for people, good 

for planet and good for you 

• Bananas count towards the recommended five a day 

portions of fruit and vegetables. 

• Bananas are a good source of vitamin C, one banana 

contains 15% of the recommended daily intake needed 

each day for good health. 

• Bananas contain tryptophan and vitamin B6, known to 

help make you feel happier. 

• Bananas have no fat, cholesterol or sodium.

GettiNG your 

fAirtrAde BANANAS 

There are now many different places to 

buy Fairtrade bananas, be it in your 

local shop or in your workplace. We are 

encouraging record breakers to buy their 

own bananas as we are hoping that this 

event will generate as many sales as 

possible to bring more benefits to 

farmers and workers in the developing 

world. There are low-cost ways to put 

on an event without shouldering a large 

financial burden. Some ideas include 

looking for external funding to pay for the 

bananas (please see the Funding tips 

section in this guide), selling them to 

people who take part or asking 10 people 

to bring 5 bananas each, this will only cost 

you around £1 each and it will enable you 

to hold an event for 50 people. For larger 

events you could ask your local retailer or 

supplier to donate the bananas to help 

make your event possible. Most 

importantly, please make sure the 

bananas you use are Fairtrade. 

Possible sources of fairtrade bananas: 

Fairtrade at Work, Schools, Colleges and Universities 

The following organisations supply the out of home 

market – work places, schools, universities, restaurants, 

cafes and hotels. 

3663 

Contact 0870 3663 100 or 

visit www.3663.co.uk 

Compass 

Contact 01932 573 000 or 

visit www.compass-group.com 

JN Fox & Sons 

Banana importer, ripener and distributor to the retail 

and food service industry. Contact 01753 639888 or 

visit www.jnfoxandsonsltd.co.uk 

Pauleys 

Contact 0870 600 2005 or 

visit www.pauleys.co.uk 

Bananas on the high street 

Many local shops and large supermarkets sell Fairtrade 

bananas. All the major retailers are aware of this record 

breaking event. If your local shops are not currently 

selling Fairtrade or if they run out of stock, please ask 

them to switch to Fairtrade by talking to the store 

manager or handing in one of our Stock it! cards. 

For more information please visit 

www.fairtrade.org.uk/stockit 

A list of places which sell Fairtrade bananas can be 

found on our website: 

www.fairtrade.org.uk/banana_products 

top tip 

Why not use this event to demonstrate that there’s a 

real appetite for Fairtrade in your area! Let local shops 

know how many people went bananas for Fairtrade at 

your event. This can be used as leverage when talking 

with local businesses. Tell the story and make the switch 

happen!

After the eveNt 

tidying up! 

After your event, we hope you will have a lot of banana 

skins. The best and most environmentally friendly way to 

dispose of the skins is to compost them. 

You’ll find an excellent guide to home composting here 

www.recyclenow.com/compost 

top tip 

Banana skins contain potassium, one of three 

minerals essential to plants. It ensures abundant 

fruit or flowers, so bury banana skins beneath a 

plant or incorporate them in your compost to 

encourage fruiting and flowering. 

Good luck 

Thank you for taking part and organising an event for the 

Go Bananas for Fairtrade! world record attempt. Don’t 

forget to tell us all about it and send us some pictures. 

We hope you found this guide useful and your event is a 

great success. It’s thanks to dedicated people like you 

that Fairtrade continues to go from strength to strength 

and can benefit more of the people who need it most. 

For more information and updates on Fairtrade, please 

visit: www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas

fuNdiNG tiPS 

Be passionate about your idea 

If you are writing a funding application or speaking to an 

audience to ask for support, find a way to convey your 

passion for the cause and your idea for raising money 

to support it. Passion has to be backed up with sensible 

activities with sound costings but there is nothing as 

persuasive as a passionate, committed campaigner! 

What is your goal? 

Work out what your brilliant idea will achieve – words 

like ‘outcomes’, ‘purpose’, ‘goal’, ‘impact’ all hit funders’ 

buttons. Don’t assume funders will make the link 

between your action and the outcome you intend – 

make the link for them. Work out the following to help 

make the links between the different elements of a 

fundraising proposal: 

• What action are you proposing? 

• Why do you need funding to support this? Why now? 

• What will your action achieve? 

• How does this outcome fit in to the bigger cause of 

supporting Fairtrade? 

• And how does Fairtrade support poverty reduction in 

the developing world? 

Budgets 

Cost your activity carefully. Value for money is a big 

selling point – high travel costs or administration costs 

are often viewed with scepticism by funders. With a little 

bit of research it should be possible to come up with a 

realistic cost for most things in the budget. If you expect 

to get funding from other sources, try and show this in 

your proposal and make clear how much you are 

asking for from this funder and what parts of the project 

this money will fund. 

research your funder 

Try and find out what other causes your target donor 

has funded before – don’t waste effort in chasing an 

unlikely source of funds. A bit of research on the internet, 

checking reports in local papers or some delving into 

online annual reports can throw up some useful 

information. It is also worth researching the conditions 

around a formal grant making body – they may only give 

to charities registered with the Charity Commission for 

example. 

Quotes and colour 

Can you include any quotes or statements of support 

which will help demonstrate the need for your idea? 

Do you have any pictures of similar actions you have 

supported before to give a bit of colour to your 

proposal? Has your idea been tried and tested elsewhere 

and can you show any evidence of its impact? Evidence 

such as this is really powerful and helps instil confidence 

in your funder/donor that this is something really worth 

supporting. Please use the Ashbourne case study to 

inspire any potential funders. 

Where to find funding 

• Your council or local authority 

• Council for Voluntary Service – advice on small grant 

programmes for community action 

• Development Education Association – information 

about funding specifically for development education 

projects www.dea.org.uk 

• The Cooperative Community Dividend Fund – contact 

your regional office or ask in local stores for details 

www.co-operative.coop/membership 

Commercial organisations (such as supermarkets or 

Fairtrade product suppliers) – can be approached to 

sponsor particular events or publications. This can be 

a great way of funding your activities, but please make 

sure companies don’t benefit from associations that 

are not appropriate, for example the impression may be 

given that the company in general, rather than a specific 

product, is Fairtrade ‘approved’.

SAmPle PreSS releASe 

Name of group/individual/organisation 

Under strict embargo: [insert date] 

[INSERT NAME OF TOWN] GOES BANANAS DURING FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 

TO BREAK WORLD BANANA EATING RECORD 

[Insert name] Fairtrade [Town/University/School] campaign group will be munching their way through [insert number] Fairtrade 

bananas as part of a national attempt to break the world record for the most number of bananas eaten during a 24-hour period. 

The record breaking event will take place on [insert date and time] at [insert venue] during Fairtrade Fortnight 

(23 February – 8 March). The Fairtrade Foundation’s annual awareness raising campaign brings together producers, campaigners, 

businesses and community groups, to highlight global trade inequality and promote Fairtrade, which benefits small scale farmers 

and farm workers and their communities in the developing world. Through Fairtrade, 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and 

their families – have more security and control over their lives. The theme of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight is 

Make it Happen. Choose Fairtrade. 

People from [insert town] will join forces with hundreds of Fairtrade Towns, Churches, Schools, and Fairtrade producer groups 

from all around the world to take part in the world record attempt between noon 6 March and noon 7 March. 

[insert name of local spokesperson] says: ‘We are asking people to Go Bananas and join us in our world record eating attempt. 

The event will be fun but also has a serious message. Two billion people live on less than two dollars a day and now more than 

ever, it’s important that people buy Fairtrade to support producers in developing countries who are faced with rising food and 

production costs as prices soar.’ 

Fairtrade bananas were first launched 11 years ago and today one in four bananas sold in the UK is Fairtrade. There are 57 

certified producer groups in eight countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and West Africa supplying Fairtrade bananas to 20 

countries in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. 

During Fairtrade Fortnight, Cornelius Lynch – a banana producer from the Windward Islands, will tour the UK. The Windward 

Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) was established in 1982 to promote the social and economic welfare of small-scale farmers. 

WINFA advocates on behalf of farmers who are struggling to make a living from bananas and other agricultural products. Among 

other community projects, the Fairtrade premium (paid on top of the fair price) has been invested in refurbishing community 

centres, materials and computers for local schools, and improving roads and bridges to give farmers better access to their 

banana fields. 

Marcella Harris, a banana farmer from the Windward Islands, is a member of WINFA. She says: ‘We don’t want your charity, we 

want to earn a decent living without relying on handouts. For us to earn a living, we need people to buy our Fairtrade fruit. I hope 

people begin to see that they can make a real difference to the lives of thousands of real people by making a simple decision 

when they shop.’ 

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation adds: ‘While Fairtrade banana sales and overall demand for Fairtrade 

products soar, prices have plummeted, having a devastating effect on banana producers and plantation workers, many of whom 

do not earn enough to live and support their families. By buying Fairtrade, consumers are ensuring producers receive a minimum 

price and Fairtrade premium, which in turn enables them to continue to earn a decent living and support their families. That’s why 

during Fairtrade Fortnight we are urging everyone to Go Bananas.’ 

For more information or for a downloadable Go Bananas event pack, go to the Fairtrade Foundation website 


Notes to Editors 

1. The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is 

the UK member. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international 

Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label is now recognised by 70% of UK consumers and appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged 

producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and their families – across 59 developing countries benefit from the 

international Fairtrade system. 

2. Over 4,500 products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark including coffee, tea, herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, grapes, pineapples, 

mangoes, avocados, apples, pears, plums, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, satsumas, clementines, mandarins, lychees, coconuts, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, 

cakes & snacks, honey, jams & preserves, chutney & sauces, rice, quinoa, herbs & spices, seeds, nuts & nut oil, wines, beers, rum, confectionary, muesli, cereal bars, 

yoghurt, ice-cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub and cotton products including clothing, homeware, cloth toys & cotton wool. 

3. 7 in 10 households purchase Fairtrade goods, including an extra 2.3 million more households in the last year alone, helping Fairtrade sales reach an estimated half a 

billion pounds (approx £493m) in 2007, a 72% increase on the previous year. By the end of 2007 there were over 430 producer organisations selling to the UK and 632 

certified producer groups globally, representing more than 1.5 million farmers and workers. 

4. The dates for Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 are 23 February to 8 March.

eciPeS 

Green banana curry 

Serves 4 

Preparation time 5 minutes 

Cooking time 30 minutes 

Ingredients 

5 green (under ripe) Fairtrade bananas, peeled 

400 ml (14fl oz) can coconut milk 

2-3 tbsp vegetable oil 

1 onion, finely sliced 

1 tbsp curry paste, such as tikka 

Salt and freshly ground Fairtrade black pepper 

3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander to garnish 

Method 

- Slice the banana into 2.5cm (1in) slices. 

- Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and fry the banana 

slices, in batches, until lightly brown on each side. 

- Set the fried bananas aside on a plate lined with 

kitchen paper. 

- Add the onion to the pan and cook it for 10 minutes 

until soft, stirring occasionally. 

- Return the banana slices to the pan and stir in the curry 

paste. 

- Add half the coconut milk and stir well. Cook for 10 

minutes over a low heat, then add the seasoning. 

- Pour in the remaining coconut milk and let the mixture 

simmer until it thickens and the bananas break down a 

little. 

- Garnish with coriander and serve immediately with 

cooked Fairtrade basmati rice. 

Tip 

You could also garnish this with wedges of 

Fairtrade lime.

eciPeS 

A fair banana loaf 

Makes one 900g (2lb) loaf 


Cooking time 1 hour 

Ingredients 

85g (3oz) butter 

100g (3 1/2oz) Fairtrade golden granulated sugar 

2 large eggs, beaten 

3 very ripe Fairtrade bananas mashed 

120ml (4fl oz) buttermilk 

300g (10 oz) self-raising flour 

100g (3 1/2oz) Fairtrade brazil nuts, roughly chopped 

100g (31/2oz) Fairtrade plain chocolate, roughly chopped 

1 tsp Fairtrade vanilla extract 

Method 

- Preheat the oven 180 C/350 F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 

900g (2lb) loaf tin and set aside. 

- Cream the butter and sugar. Beat the eggs in gradually. 

- Stir in the bananas and the buttermilk. Then gradually 

fold in the flour. Add in the chocolate, nuts, and vanilla 

extract and stir to combine. 

- Tip the mixture into the loaf tine and bake for 1 hour or 

until cooked – when a skewer inserted into the centre 

comes out clean. 

- Leave to cool slightly in the tin, then turn out onto a 

wire cooling rack. 

- Serve warm or cold. 

Banana and chocolate muffins 

Makes 12 large muffins 


Cooking time 20-25 minutes 

Ingredients 

300g (10oz) plain flour 

1 tbsp baking powder 

125g (4 ½ oz) Fairtrade demerara sugar 

225ml (7 1/2fl oz) milk 

2 large eggs 

125g (4 1/2oz) butter, melted 

2 Fairtrade bananas, mashed 

1003 (3 ½ oz) Fairtrade chocolate, chopped into 

small pieces 

Method 

- Preheat oven to 200 C/400 F/Gas 6. Place 12 muffin 

cases into a 12-hole muffin tin. 

- Sieve the flour into your mixing bowl. 

- Add the baking powder and stir. Add in demerara 

sugar, stir to combine, and set the bowl aside. 

- Pour the milk into a separate bowl or jug. Crack in the 

eggs and beat the mixture. 

- Add in the melted butter and stir. Add the mashed 

bananas and then the chopped chocolate and stir to 

combine. 

- Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir well. 

- Spoon the batter into the 12 muffin cases, dividing it 

equally. 

- Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until well 

risen and golden. 

- Enjoy! 

These recipes feature in the Fairtrade Everyday 

Cookbook, published by Dorling Kindersley, alongside 

more than 100 mouth watering dishes using Fairtrade 

ingredients, with contributions by supporters, producers 

and celebrities. 

Available in all good bookshops RRP £16.99 

fairtrade banana smoothie 

Ingredients 

1 Fairtrade banana, peeled and sliced 

½ pint milk 

handful of ice 

1-2 tbsp Fairtrade honey 

Method 

- Place the Fairtrade banana, milk, ice and Fairtrade 

honey in a blender and then blend until smooth. 

- Transfer to a serving glass and serve at once. 

Fairtrade Foundation 

3rd Floor, Ibex House 

42-47 Minories 

London, EC3N 1DY 

Tel: 020 7405 5942 Fax: 020 7405 5943 

Registered Charity No. 1043886 A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 2733136 

Photography © Simon Rawles, © Ben and Jerrys, © www.handupmedia.co.uk, © Fairtrade Foundation, 

© Farnborough Sixth Form College, © Moe Kafer, © Zed Nelson, © Gary Roberts, © Dorling Kindersley

Go Bananas campaign pack - The Fairtrade Foundation

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