Day Three - Unfair food prices = A big food crisis!

So today, I'm hitting the Fairtrade. Bananas, tea, chocolate, apricots, coffee, sugar, spices, wine... you name it, Fairtrade do it. But why is it good to buy Fairtrade? Well let's start with the issue here....

After decades of progress, the number of people without enough to eat is actually increasing, and food price spikes are a big part of the problem. That's because, when you spend up to 75% of your weekly income on food – as many poor families are forced to do – sudden rises have an especially destructive effect. Price spikes have many causes – the changing climate, oil prices, dysfunctional commodities markets, biofuels policies that mean crops end up in cars and not on plates – but what's clear is that we are facing a whole new challenge. It's time for governments to work together to deal with food price crises effectively – and to tackle the problems that mean millions of people can't afford enough to eat.

There is a whole host of issues targeted by the Food Prices aspect of Oxfam's GROW campaign but encouraging people to buy Fairtrade can provide financial security for farmers in developing countries. The cost of fairtrade produce compared to regular products is incredibly low when one considers the effect it is having in people's lives across the world. Not only does it ensure a fair wage, but it also promises the price for their goods will not fluctuate in a way that puts people dangerously close to poverty. Also, that extra few pence from you can stretch to providing community facilities such as schools, agricultural equipment and hospitals - thus breaking the cycle of poverty. Suddenly my banana and orange juice seems like more than just a refreshing way to start the day...