Bite: World Fair Trade Day
Oxfam’s annual event brings fair trade products out of the markets and into the streets. Head to a picnic, party or pancake-bake near you for the 10 May event
Robyn Boyle on Flemish food and drink
Oxfam put out a call for people across the region to come up with ways to celebrate World Fair Trade Day and submit them via the website. Schools, companies, neighbourhoods and individuals, too, responded en masse.
Bpost, for example, has organised a fair trade lunch for 1,300 of its employees. The City of Hasselt set up a fair trade cooking competition between its different departments. Triodos Bank will hold a fair trade breakfast quiz at its headquarters in Brussels.
Public events include Zuid Poll, an election in Leuven and other cities on the day, inviting people to cast their vote to put fair trade in the South on the permanent political agenda. There are numerous fair trade picnics going on the same weekend, most notably in Bruges, where the city has teamed up with Oxfam World Shop to lay on a family-friendly lunch in Sebrechts Park.
Ghent’s Oxfam World Shop, meanwhile, has plans for a pop-up coffee bar, complete with snacks, live music, chocolate tastings and a talk over tea with Andrés González Aguilera of Paraguayan sugar cane co-operative Manduvirá.
There are thousands of fair trade events going on across Flanders and Brussels. Have a look at the website to find one near you, or take your pick of one of our suggestions:
GHENT
Pop-up Koffiebar: Chocolate tastings, tea with Paraguayan Andrés of the Manduvirá collective, an intimate acoustic concert by Koot’n Kazan and an exchange shop. Bring an old book, piece of jewellery, decor, etc, to exchange for an item in the shop.
10 May, 12.00-20.00 at Oxfam Wereldwinkel, Lammerstraat 16
ZOERSEL (Antwerp province)
World Fair Trade Day: Eat your fill of pancakes and take part in the Zuid Poll
10 May 10.00-17.00 at Oxfam Wereldwinkel, Handelslei 47
BRUGES
Fairtrade Picknick: Enjoy a range of tasty fair trade products for just €6 (free for kids under 10)
10 May, 11.30-14.00 at Prof Sebrechts Park
ASSENEDE (East Flanders)
Bio Eco Markt: Market offering local, organic and artisanal products, from farm-fresh dairy (ice cream, buttermilk, chocolate mousse) to honey and beer, plus a Mother’s Day Breakfast buffet filled with fair trade and local products
11 May 10.00-17.00 at Ter Walle, Stroomstraat 8
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