News from Cherry
Ros Stanley of Fairtrade Cherry Burton gives a roundup of Fairtrade Fortnight in the East Riding village:
Great excitement this year as not only did we say ‘Come on In to Fairtrade’ but also celebrated our 15th Birthday as a Fairtrade Village!
Breakfast in Cherry Burton
Two fabulous Fairtrade Birthday cakes were ceremonially cut and shared at the Fairtrade breakfast after a delicious feast produced by farmers from Fairtrade co-operatives and from Yorkshire. The place was abuzz with over 80 happy breakfasters keeping the volunteers very busy.
A warm welcome down at the Bay Horse in Cherry
Media interest started before Christmas with plans for a February feature on Fairtrade in Cherry Burton. This was in a large format local glossy magazine, ‘The Journal’ which has a wide circulation. BBC local radio also got in touch to find out what Cherry Burton was up to. They broadcast several live interviews with event organisers during the Fortnight. A preview of ‘Come On In to Fairtrade in Cherry Burton’ was published in Beverley Life, the monthly local paper.
The village shop had a special Fairtrade display and increased its range of Fairtrade products. The ‘Bay Horse’ went all out for Fairtrade with Fairtrade displays, balloons, bunting, and a menu featuring Fairtrade desserts. They also held a Fairtrade coffee morning and raffle as a fund raiser for Fairtrade adding significantly to the collecting box that had been on the bar during the Fortnight. Customers at ‘I Love Kitchens’ were invited to ‘Come On In’ with Fairtrade tea, coffee and cookies.
Cherry Burton Primary School started the Fortnight with a whole school assembly on Where Our Food Comes From’ and Fairtrade. Children imagined they lived in Malawi and found out what a difference Fairtrade had made to sugar farmers and their families.
Pre-school had a week of activities including Fairtrade baking and a Fairtrade banana picnic.
Worship and sermons focussed on Fairtrade issues at St Michael’s church. This is a Fairtrade church which hosts the village Fair Trade stall on Sunday mornings after the morning service when everyone is relaxing and chatting over Fairtrade coffee and tea in the Centre. This year the Rector ran an additional evening taking ‘A Closer Look at Fairtrade’ in the Centre with Fairtrade tasters – coffee, tea, chocolate, nuts, banana chips, raisins and apricots.
Much of the village integrates Fairtrade year-round. It is this widespread engagement with and support of Fairtrade that has enabled Cherry Burton to continue to be a Fairtrade Village since 2003.
