A COMMITMENT towards making Tavistock a Fairtrade town was last week requested by a new group aiming to do its bit towards tackling poverty in Third World countries. Geri Laithwaite, of the Tavistock Fairtrade Steering Group, asked Tavistock Town Council to pass a resolution supporting the concept. She said: ?The Fairtrade Mark is the only independent consumer label that guarantees international Fairtrade standards have been met. ?The purpose of a Fairtrade town is to contribute to the Fairtrade Foundation?s aim of tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal, through encouraging support for the Fairtrade Mark.? She told the council that Fairtrade buying was now one of the fastest growing consumer trends in the UK. Fairtrade goods include tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, honey, fruit, vegetables, soft drinks, dried fruit, snack bars, biscuits, sweets, wine and cereals. Ms Laithwaite said the Tavistock Fairtrade Steering Group was made up of representatives from Oxfam, Tavistock Area Christians Together, WestDEN, the governing board of Tavistock College, Traidcraft and Grimstone Manor. The group also hopes to attract members from the business community, the farmers? market and students from Tavistock and Kelly colleges. She said the group would provide a Fairtrade catering directory to organisations which wanted to establish a Fairtrade purchasing policy ? these organisations would be able to display a window sticker and could be included in a guide to be produced by the group. She said by supporting the call, Tavistock would be setting an example, not only to other local organisations, but to all towns and villages throughout Devon. Some councillors, while feeling the aims were admirable, were concerned to know much Third World producers actually benefited from the sale of their products. Others wanted to know how much support the town council would be expected to give. Cllr Alison Clish-Green said: ?I think everyone around this table is in principle in favour of what you are trying to do, and anything to raise awareness is good. ?I think what you are asking for really is support in principle ? I feel quite strongly that raising awareness is the thing we can help with and it wouldn?t have the cost implications some people are jittery about.? Members agreed the Fairtrade Steering Group?s request for support should be considered at a future meeting of the finance and general purposes committee. l The Fairtrade Steering Group held its inaugural meeting at the Bedford Hotel as the Times went to press on Tuesday night. Anyone who would like more information should call Geri Laithwaite on 01822 617457.