Supermarket staff do Fairtrade waltz

LIGHT-FOOTED Somerfield staff were waltzing in the aisles on Monday at Barnstaple s Pottington store to help high kick start the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight. Attired in tuxedos and with feather boas at the ready, staff were quick-stepping around the sto

LIGHT-FOOTED Somerfield staff were waltzing in the aisles on Monday at Barnstaple's Pottington store to help high kick start the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Attired in tuxedos and with feather boas at the ready, staff were quick-stepping around the store to encourage customers to switch from conventional brands to Fairtrade products in The Big Swap, this year's theme.

Fairtrade Fortnight runs until March 7 and is an annual celebration of Fairtrade Mark products, which help producers in developing countries by guaranteeing fair prices and providing an additional social premium to fund vital community projects.

Fairtrade groups across North Devon have been busy organising events, with a Fair Trade Fashion Show at Christchurch in Bear Street, Barnstaple, on Friday from 7pm, with models strutting their stuff having swapped their usual clothing for Fairtrade outfits.

Bideford Baptist Church hosts A Chocolate Affair on Thursday, March 4 at 7pm, with a Ghanaian cocoa producer talking about his Fairtrade experiences.

This year the focus is on Fairtrade tea and a number of Big Brew events are taking place across North Devon, including tomorrow (Thursday) from 11am-2pm at Acorn Caf� in Barnstaple and on Friday 10am-2pm at Barnstaple Library. Plus every day during the fortnight Fair's Fair in Bear Street will hold a Big Brew from 2-4pm. On Sunday the Plough Arts Centre in Torrington hosts Strickly Fairtrade Tea Circle Dance plus Big Brew from 3-5pm.