Useful organisations and initiatives
Fairtrade Towns
Developed by the Fairtrade Foundation, Fairtrade Towns is an award scheme that recognises and supports communities' efforts to support Fairtrade and use 'Fairtrade' marked products. There are over 500 Fairtrade Towns, cities, villages, counties, zones, islands and boroughs in the UK.
Fareshare
Fareshare is a national charity working with communities to relieve food poverty and reduce food waste. Working through 17 hubs across the UK, Fareshare redirects surplus ‘fit for purpose’ products from the food and drink industry to 700+ organisations providing food for those most in need in their local communities.
Food Ethics Council
The Food Ethics Council provides independent advice on the ethics of food and farming. Its aim is to create a food system that is fair and healthy for people and the environment. The Food and Fairness Enquiry report provides guidance for policy-makers on dealing with social justice issues throughout the food chain.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation uses research, policy and practical programmes to create lasting change for people and places in poverty. JRF is developing a Minimum Income Standard which aims to set a benchmark for what is an acceptable income for different groups in the UK.
Supermarket Ombudsman
Championed by the Competition Commission, Federation of Food and Drink and the National Farmers Union to enhance fairness in the food chain, a new watchdog known as the Groceries Code Adjudicator, is to be created in 2013 to protect suppliers and farmers from large retailers abusing their buying power.