BARRY Town Council’s Fairtrade committee has won the Hub Cymru Africa award for Campaigns on Fairtrade.

The Council’s Fairtrade group were nominated for its Don’t Ditch Fairtrade campaign, which calls on major supermarkets to continue to support Fairtrade products where the original farmers in developing countries receive a fair wage for their work.

Committee chairman, Cllr Ian Johnson, said: “This has been a very busy few months for the committee and we are very pleased that Hub Cymru Africa have recognised that work, which has included the Don’t Ditch Fairtrade campaign, an exhibition on Fairtrade Gold and Fairtrade footballs.

“Fairtrade is a social movement whose goal is that farmers and producers in developing countries are paid a fair wage for their work, that their farming is sustainable and that they are not exploited so that multi-nationals can make a big profit at farmers’ expense.

“Our shopping choices can make a big impact, so it is pleasing to see so many supermarkets and coffee shops around Barry using Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar and other products.

“Unfortunately, one supermarket in particular, Sainsbury’s, have withdrawn from the international Fairtrade agreement, and we would like to see them come back, to better support producers in the developing world.

“This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight, at the end of February, is a great time for people to learn more about Fair Trade.”

The Hub Cymru Africa awards, held at the National Museum in Cardiff on Monday, January 27 was for recognition of projects across Wales that support links between Wales and Africa, with other winners including a project introducing bees to help farmers and fundraising for a mental health hospital in Somaliland.