A new information leaflet has been launched to encourage more retailers to support Plymouth's bid for Fairtrade City status.

A steering group has been set up to promote the commercial and social benefits of backing the international initiative, which ensures that farmers in developing countries are paid a fair price for products such as tea, coffee, cocoa and bananas and that all workers have basic employment rights.

Plymouth coffee shops and restaurants are being encouraged to stock at least two Fairtrade products and city centre cafe Les Jardins de Bagatelle is the latest business to sign up to the scheme, taking Plymouth another step closer to becoming one of the UK's first Fairtrade Cities.

Plymouth's bid for Fairtrade City status is supported by Linda Gilroy, MP and a range of local organisations including Oxfam and the Plymouth and District Forum for International Development.

The City Council is now serving Fairtrade tea and coffee supplied by Liskeard-based Drinkmaster, who also supply the Caf Direct brand to the Eden Project and the Co-operative Society.

Council leader Tudor Evans said: 'Plymouth is leading the way nationally and setting an example for others to follow.

'There's a great deal of business that we can attract to Plymouth with people coming to the city to drink Fairtrade coffee and tee in our coffee bars and tea shops.

'As more and more local shops, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets around the city begin to stock Fairtrade products the greater the impact we will have.'

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