Team Valley visit for fair trade farmers

Tommy Ramann and Nelie Kok are members of the Eksteenskuil Agricultural Co-operative in South Africa which supplies dried fruit for Geobar cereal bars sold by leading fair trade organisation Traidcraft.

During their visit to Northumbrian Fine Foods, which manufactures Geobar for Traidcraft, the farmers will see the bars being made and learn more about this popular product which has sold more than 20 million bars since its launch in 1999.

Traidcraft has been buying vine fruit from Eksteenskuil for more than 10 years, helping to provide a better quality of life for the farmers and their families who live and farm beside the Orange River. The premium on sales has also helped to fund training and provide communal farming equipment.

The visit to Northumbrian Fine Foods takes place on the eve of the Traidcraft conference at St Chad’s College, Durham, which will bring together more than 250 Traidcraft supporters, visitors and staff for a weekend packed with opportunities to catch up with the latest developments in Traidcraft’s work.

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Notes to editors:

• Tommy and Nelie will be at Northumbrian Fine Foods from 2pm – photographers and reporters welcome.
• For further media information contact june.kelly@coolbluebrand.com or frances.winn@coolbluebrand.com Tel 01642 351011.
• Traidcraft is the UK’s leading fair trade organisation and has been fighting poverty through trade since 1979.
• Traidcraft is based in the Team Valley, Gateshead and is the only UK organisation dedicated exclusively to fighting poverty through trade.
• Geobars are available from supermarkets and direct from Traidcraft www.traidcraftshop.co.uk.