ORGANISATIONS throughout Comet country have been putting all their efforts into becoming Fairtrade friendly during Fairtrade Fortnight. But Hitchin has beaten all other Hertfordshire towns as it has been awarded Fairtrade Town status. Many businesses in

ORGANISATIONS throughout Comet country have been putting all their efforts into becoming Fairtrade friendly during Fairtrade Fortnight.

But Hitchin has beaten all other Hertfordshire towns as it has been awarded Fairtrade Town status.

Many businesses in the town have been encouraged to sell Fairtrade products and use those products in their vending machines.

Cllr Martin Stears, chair of the Hitchin Fairtrade Steering Group, said receiving the status is fantastic news.

He said: "But this is only a start. We need more shops and cafes to sell Fairtrade products and shoppers to buy them.

"With ordinary products, the people who are producing them are often poorly paid and live in countries with poor health and education services. With Fairtrade, farmers and workers get fair guaranteed prices and a premium enabling them to improve their standards and invest for the future."

Fairtrade fortnight ran until today (Thursday, March 16).

Stevenage is also trying to become a Fairtrade town.

Executive councillor for resources, Sharon Taylor, said: "We believe that we have a moral obligation to give support to producers in third world countries to ensure that they are not exploited, and receive fair prices for their goods.

"This is not just about a buying and selling process, it is about creating a global family."

l Hertfordshire Euro MP Richard Howitt visited the Co-op store in Knebworth on Friday to launch and stock the shelves with a brand new range of South African wines.

The proceeds from the wines will provide crèche facilities for the children of impoverished wine growers and help to tackle adult literacy.

In the Knebworth store customers can choose from 126 own-label and branded Fairtrade products.

Mr Howitt said: "The price of us having top quality produce should not be at the cost of exploiting small farmers in developing countries.

"Britain has overtaken Switzerland to become the biggest Fairtrade market in the world, let's make the effort to see Hertfordshire become the biggest market in Britain.