Success Stories

 In November 2002, the town of Aberfeldy in Perthshire became Scotland’s first Fairtrade Town. Closely followed by Strathaven in Lanarkshire, Aberfeldy publicly demonstrated its commitment to fair trade and local produce. The award has resulted in this historic Perthshire town diversifying what it can offer visitors, setting it apart from similar towns in the areas.

The purpose of a Fairtrade Town is to help tackle poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal. In order to fulfil this aim, Aberfeldy had to demonstrate that it had achieved the following five goals.

These five goals were:

• Commitment from the Local Authority
• Availability of Fairtrade products to local consumers.
• Fairtrade products used by local work places and community organisations and served in local cafés/catering establishments.
• Media coverage and popular support for the campaign
• A local Fairtrade steering group is established to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade.

As part of this process, the town also supported local producers as a way of promoting quality produce.

 Such an achievement requires the whole community to work together, as well as an on-going commitment to Fair Trade. The Aberfeldy Traidcraft Group drove the campaign forwards, working closely with the Upper Tay Development Group and other members of community.

The campaign was launched in March 2002 with the support of the local councillor, MP and MSP, the Scottish Co-op and local shops and businesses. By November 2002 the town had achieved the five goals and was awarded Fair Trade status.

Local schools, residents, businesses and community groups are all involved with the initiative. In 2003, the local Aberfeldy Show focussed on the theme of Fair Trade, with a children’s fancy dress competition, a publicity stand for the Fair trade Town and an Unfair Game to illustrate the injustice in international trade in a light-hearted way.

Supporting local farmers, artists, craft workers and providers of services is seen as an integral part of being a Fairtrade Town. On the second Saturday of each month a Country Market is held where local producers can sell their wares. The market is a useful point of contact for visitors to the area who can not only purchase local fare but can also find out more about Aberfeldy’s Fair Trade ethos.

Tourism businesses are involved with Fairtrade through the provision of local and fair trade produce in their shops, bedrooms and breakfasts. Over 50% of the local B&Bs in the town, including the Tourist Information Centre, provide Fairtrade products. A local wildlife tourism landrover expedition uses fair trade tea and coffee on its trips.

 New road signs have been erected on every entrance to the town. They carry the international logo of the Fairtrade Foundation and the message "Aberfeldy, Scotland’s First Fairtrade Town"

In association with the Upper Tay Development Group, a window sticker bearing the slogan "We support fair trade and local produce" was given to local shops and businesses who supported the initiative.

The Fair Trade status has not only raised the interest of local people but has also drawn attention to the town. In June 2003, the Trade Justice lobby was held in the town where the town called for their local MP to lobby Westminster for a fairer system of world trade. Although this is the first season since Aberfeldy’s award, several enquiries have been received via the Tourist Information Centre.

 A Fair Trade Directory for the Aberfeldy and Pitlochry area has been published which provides information about all the businesses supporting the Fair Trade initiative, through the sale or provision of fair trade and local produce. These directories are available to visitors in their B&B bedroom packs and at the local Tourist Information Centre.

The whole town has the opportunity to learn more about Fair Trade issues and the importance of supporting local producer. In March 2003, Aberfeldy was visited by two cocoa farmers from Ghana whose stories brought to life the advantages of fair trade for poor Third World producers. The Traidcraft Group is planning events for One World Week which will include a Fair Trade Shop, film evening and story writing competition for the local primary school.

The local area tourist board, Perthshire Tourist Board, is supporting the initiative through its Tourist Information Centres and by encouraging other businesses to be involved through their newsletters.

The local learning centre, run by Perth College, provides courses specifically for tourism businesses interested in the impacts of tourism on the local and international environment. For those wanting to find out more about green tourism and fair trade, two courses are available called ‘Go Green in Tourism’ and ‘Boost your Business with Environmentally Friendly Tourism`.

For further information please contact:

Faith Aitken,
Secretary
Aberfeldy Traidcraft Group
Tel.: 01887 820 444
Email:faithaitken@yahoo.com

Case study added on 6 August 2003

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