KENYAN coffee farmers visited Okehampton recently to mark Fairtrade Fortnight, where they saw their products on sale in the town’s supermarkets.

Victor Biwot and Esther Chepkwony spent Monday last week (March 5) in Okehampton at the invitation of the town’s Fairtrade group.

Victor received a warm welcome at both Co-op and Waitrose where he was impressed by the number of Fairtrade products on sale, even finding Kenyan Fairtrade tea on the shelves.

He was then joined by Esther Chepkwony to at a ‘Meet the Farmer’ teatime event in Fairplace Church where the two farmers shared a Fairtrade brew with locals.

They spoke about the benefits the Fairtrade scheme had given them and their families and communities.

The Fairtrade premium paid for their products is invested in projects voted for by the farmers themselves, which have made a big difference to their lives.

Esther said her daily walk for water had been greatly reduced thanks to a water pipe installed in her village and that her daughter had been able to go to university because of a Fairtrade premium bursary.

‘Both farmers encouraged us to choose Fairtrade products where possible because of the real impact it is having on their lives,’ said Cynthia Higbee of Okehampton Fairtrade Group.

Fairtrade Fortnight, from February 26 to March 11, kicked off early in Okehampton with a Fair and Local Market on Saturday, February 24 in the Charter Hall, which was well attended despite the freezing weather.

‘It was especially good to have a stall from our local Harvest Workers’ Co-operative, advertising all they do to promote sustainability in farming, as Fairtrade farmers are encouraged to do the same,’ said Cynthia.