Hungry eaters scoff 1,270 bananas for Fairtrade
HUNGRY eaters devoured bananas in a 24 hour marathon fruit-eating bid to raise awareness of Fairtrade produce.
The Go Bananas scheme, which kicked-off at Stamford's Morrisons on Friday lunchtime, led to 1,270 Fairtrade bananas being consumed in 24 hours.
Fairtrade Stamford organised the event to round-off Fairtrade Fortnight, which included a range of activities designed to promote produce which guarantees to give its third world producers a fair price.
On Friday people joined others across the country and began a banana-eating event at the supermarket before later moving on to Teenzone Cafe at Christ Church for the night where 140 bananas were scoffed. The challenge then moved back to Morrisons for the morning.
More than a 1,000 members of public stopped to grab a banana, with a dozen volunteers supporting the marathon eating challenge and one girl managed to scoff 20 bananas in 24 hours.
Fairtrade Stamford member George Hetherington was delighted with the response. He said: "We talked to an awful lot of people about Fairtrade and it was a really good promotion for the cause."
The group has thanked people who helped donate 175 towards the cost of the bananas, as well as Lincolnshire Co-op, which donated funds.
Shoppers at Oakham's Co-op store also took part.
And the Rutland Fairtrade Steering Group organised an art exhibition and fashion show at Vale of Catmose College with help from pupils.
Chairman Richard Baggott, of Withers Close in Oakham, said: "The obvious interest and enthusiasm shown on the night was an indication of why more and more mainstream companies are now taking ethical considerations seriously."
The Catmose Gallery invited Paul Chandler, the chief executive of Traidcraft, to give a speech. Traidcraft aims to fight poverty through trade.
Staff and pupils at Casterton Business and Enterprise College also took part during their lunch on Friday.
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Monday 06 February 2012
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