THE virtues of Fairtrade produce were the theme of a coffee morning held last weekend to celebrate the nationwide launch of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Organised by the Okehampton Fairtrade Group, the 'Fair Deal' event attracted people to All Saints Parish Hall throughout the morning.

In addition to a stall selling Fairtrade goods in order to benefit people in developing countries, there were stalls selling local produce and benefiting people running small businesses in this area.

Fairtrade fortnight runs from Monday, February 25 to Tueday, March 12.

Friday shoppers during the fortnight can enjoy a special fair and shoppers' lunch in Okehampton's All Saints Parish Hall on Market Street.

The lunch is being made using Fairtrade products from abroad and West Country ingredients wherever possible. It is being held to celebrate the best of both local produce and Fairtrade produce from abroad.

The fair and shoppers' lunch will be held tomorrow (Friday) and Friday, March 8 from noon to 2pm. Dishes include a local vegetable soup with bread or a roll, a meat or vegetable hotpot with baked potato or Palestinian couscous.

All the dishes are home-made, including the bread and rolls served with the soup. Fairtrade tea and coffee is served with cake baked with fairtrade fruit, sugar and spices.

Fairtrade goods from Palestine will be on display and for sale along with some more unusual fairtrade food items. These include the Fairtrade Easter egg, which tells the story of Easter in the box.

For more information call David Muir on 01837 840867.

Okehampton was awarded Fairtrade town status in 2010, and both the group and Okehampton Primary School also have that status.