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| Treat your tastebuds fairly |
Ethical-produced coffee is building up a loyal
fan base, whatever the weather. Peter Gruner hears more
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Co-founder Pat Woodward
Becky Hunter
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IT may not be Starbucks but Becky Hunter, who serves coffee from
a pavement stall, is proud that she is helping developing world
traders get a decent return for every drink that she sells.
Rather than a plush looking shop with piped music, Becky makes do
with the forecourt of St Mary’s Church, Upper Street, Islington,
from where she provides coffee in all weather.
Since the Fairtrade stall opened in April business has been booming
and customers include shoppers, traders and many of the stars from
the King’s Head Theatre across the road.
Tables and chairs are now provided for the growing community of
coffee and tea drinkers, and Becky hopes to carry on throughout
winter.
However, if it is really pouring she can shelter under a church
alcove.
Becky, 23, is also a part time artist who will shortly be exhibiting
at the church crypt.
She said: “In the meantime I’m quite happy with the 6am
start and I love working outside, whatever the weather. I’ve
got lots of regular customers now and it is all very friendly. I
couldn’t work indoors.”
She feels very strongly about Fairtrade produce and added: “It
means people in the developing world are able to make a living as
a result of someone drinking their coffee over here. Fairtrade workers
– the ones who grow the coffee and make the produce –
are not exploited and are being paid a reasonable price for their
work.”
The café was set up by Islington architects Mathew Lloyd
and Pat Woodward with St Mary’s vicar Rev Graham Kings.
Pat said: “Our regulars originally came because we were selling
Fairtrade drinks but now they tell us that our coffee is better
than that which is available at the normal chains.
“Our coffee is slightly cheaper than normally available but
we say it is a lot stronger. Once you’ve tried our coffee you’ll
never want any other variety.
“We believe the big chains provide wishy-washy, insipid coffee
and only pay lip service to Fairtrade.”
Revd Kings is delighted that the café is a big success. The
church also runs a Fairtrade coffee bar inside the crypt on the
last Thursday of every month from 10am to 7.30pm and every Saturday
from 10am to 4pm.
“Islington is an area where people want to use ethical products,”
he said. “And the products themselves are as good and often
better quality than that produced by a large, less socially aware
businesses.”
The market for Fairtrade foods – products that guarantee producers
in the developing world fair wages and working conditions –
is now running at £100m, according to a recent report. More
supermarkets are stocking the certified products, which now include
Fairtrade flowers.
From just chocolate, coffee and tea 10 years ago, more than 250
products carry the Fairtrade mark today.
Latest figures show shoppers are now spending more than £2m
per week at the checkout on official Fairtrade foods.
Roses flown in from Kenya to Tesco became the first product that
is not food to get Fairtrade status.
The growers receive a guaranteed minimum wage plus eight per cent
of the export price.
To stop unscrupulous firms from cashing in on a growing trend, only
goods that undergo strict monitoring can qualify for the official
mark. |
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