Do you sell or use Fair Trade goods? If so, let me know and I will include a reference to you in the leaflet I am preparing and advertise you in the posters and other publicity material.

I believe we are very fortunate to live and work in Winchcombe.

The concept of Winchcombe as a Fair Trade Town seems to describe what Winchcombe already is and its affirmation would provide good publicity for our town and provide us with other networks in which to promote ourselves.

Winchcombe has high ethical standards of trading – we pride ourselves on producing/selling good quality products, in good conditions, giving good service and at a fair price.

Many customers are keen to source goods and services locally and many are also keen to ensure that producers overseas have the same high standards that we have locally.

Many of you may have noticed the recent articles in the Independent about ethical trading and in particular about coffee (Monday 16^th May). The Fair Trade mark (like goods from Oxfam and Traidcraft) guarantees this high standard and a good product for a range of some 700 products – of which tea and coffee are the best known.

The Fair Trade Organisation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) also promotes a scheme whereby areas can be designated Fair Trade areas and a group of us are in the process of making Winchcombe a Fair Trade Town. This is not an onerous operation and we have almost met the targets already, but it is an ongoing process.

As part of this process we are about to deliver leaflets about Fair Trade to every household in the area. We are also organising a Fair Trade Saturday on 16^th July (to coincide with the Farmers Market) with samples, sales and chances to generally promote Fair Trade.

A copy of the proposed leaflet can be seen at: http://www.winchcombe.co.uk/FTTleaflet.pdf. I will be printing the leaflet during the second week of June to be advertised at the June Farmers Market and to be distributed house-to-house by volunteers from 4^th July onwards.

Please give me details about you by 6^th June.