It means a fairer price for farmers abroad.”

Karen Palframan describes the benefit of buying Fairtrade goods. “It can create a better life for farmers and whole communities.

“It is something we are trying to promote in Bradford and make people aware of the impact of buying these products when shopping.”

As chairman of Bradford Fairtrade Zone, Karen is busy promoting events during Fairtrade Fortnight which runs until March 8. Established to raise awareness of the biggest and best-known ethical label in the UK , the two-week focus is 20 years old this year.

The event has come a long way since 1995, educating the public on why to choose Fairtrade and increasing sales of a range of a growing range of products. Bradford district has been a Fairtrade Zone since 2006, with Keighley becoming the eighth town in the district to gain Fairtrade status, in 2013. There are also many Fairtrade churches, schools and businesses and two Fairtrade shops, the Olive Branch in Great Horton Road and Sonia’s Smile in Haworth.

This year Bradford Fairtrade Zone is teaming up with Bradford College which, with its students’ union, is working towards becoming an accredited Fairtrade institution.

The college is hosting a short film, ‘Fairtrade Matters’ which will be of particular interest to its film students as they can learn about fair-trade as well as film making in Africa. A thought-provoking film by the Fairtrade Foundation, it offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of two of the smallholder farmers and workers, Edson and Tsala, at the heart of Fairtrade tea production in rural Malawi.

President of Bradford College Students’ Union Fatima Sohail says: “Bradford College Students’ Union is passionate about helping to bring about a fairer, better world. Fairtrade is a brilliant way for everyone to have an impact: if you buy Fairtrade products like tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate, you are helping farmers in developing countries to get a better deal. That’s why we are working to make Bradford College a Fairtrade College, and why we are marking Fairtrade Fortnight with a stall and film-screenings, including hand-outs of free Fairtrade Ben and Jerrys’ icecream for the film-goers.”

Adds Gareth Osborne, Group Chief Operating Officer at Bradford College: “In many ways we view the Bradford College Group as a social enterprise, prioritising our social impact wherever possible. Our role is to help build this awareness, enabling everyone to contribute as much as possible to sustainable development and make a positive social impact. We are therefore delighted to join the Students’ Union in championing Fairtrade Fortnight.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the positive impact Fairtrade can have and to remind us of the impact we can each have on society by making simple ethical choices in our everyday buying decisions.”

Also as part of the fortnight, on Thursday March 5 Linda McAvan MEP, labour MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and chair of the European Parliament’s International Development Committee, is speaking at the college.

Other Fairtrade film events in the district include Waste Land, a film about the world’s largest garbage dump in Brazil, being shown at West Lane Baptist Church in Haworth on February 27.

The Fairtrade Foundation has chosen Bradford for the exclusive film event with Andy Powell, the associate director of its new film ‘Fairtrade Matters’. “Bradford was the obvious choice as it is the UK’s UNESCO City of Film, and there is widespread support for Fairtrade across the district.

The film will also be shown on Big Screen Bradford ****along with Fairtrade films made during he Tour de France.

Mike de Villiers, joint Fairtrade convenor for Baildon with his wife Elaine, prepared for the fortnight by helping youngsters at Glenaire Primary School in Shipley to make Fairtrade tea cosy hats.

Fairtrade events will be taking place at locations in Baildon including the Co-op in Northgate on February 27, and at Baildon Farmer’s Market on 28.

“I believe that Fairtrade brings more justice in our trading,” he says. It is about supporting the people who provide things that are important to me.”

Adds Karen Palframan: “Fairtrade puts farmers and workers first with a whole package of support and better terms of trade. The Fairtrade Minimum Price provides a safety net against low and fluctuating prices to ensure that costs of production are covered. “The need for Fairtrade is greater than ever. Supply chains are under immense financial pressure to keep prices low and supermarket price wars are exacerbating the problem. For example the cost of loose bananas.” *Big Screen Bradford will be showing Fairtrade Matters at 3pm on Thursday March 5; fairtrade.org.uk