Bananas Growing in Wales!

Fairtrade Banana Farmer Sandra Joseph has been travelling around schools in Wales spreading the message of Fairtrade during this year's Fairtrade Fortnight. While visiting Carmarthenshire schools, she was surprised and amused by the fact that most of the school children she spoke to said they had seen a banana tree, and most surprising of all was that they had not had to travel outside Carmarthenshire to see the tropical plant.

On hearing that the National Botanic Garden of Wales does indeed have banana trees, Sandra made a special visit to see them.

Most were wrapped up for winter, but one inside the tropical glass house was bearing fruit, and Sandra was delighted to pose for a photo she never thought she would see when she left her St Lucia home

Amser prysur i Sandra Joseph

Mae ffermwraig bananas masnach deg , Sandra Joseph wedi bod yn brysur iawn yn trafeilio o amgylch ysgolion Cymru yn rhannu’r neges dros Fasnach Deg. Tra’n ymweld ag ysgolion Sir Gaerfyrdin cafodd tipyn o sioc i glywed plant yn dweud eu bod wedi gweld coeden fanana, a’r peth rhyfeddaf oedd eu bod wedi ei gweld yn lleol!

Aeth Sandra i weld dros ei hunan. Ie mynd i’r gerddi Botaneg Cenedlaethol oedd angen. Roedd y rhan fwyaf o’r coed dal heb agor dros y gaeaf ond roedd un tu fewn i’r ty gwydr mawr yn dechrau dangos ffrwyth, ac roedd Sandra wrth ei bodd yn cael tynnu un llun yr oedd erioed wedi meddwl y byddai yn ei wneud pan adawodd ei chartref yn St Lucia.

5th annual Fairtrade banana split

Around 200 people filled Ammanford's College Street arcade on Friday for the town's 5th annual Fairtrade banana split. The 30m long Fairtrade feast was built, eaten and cleared away in an hour of Fairtrade Fun, attended by Fairtrade banana farmer Sandra Joseph from St Lucia. She said : "I had heard about this massive Fairtrade banana split and I wanted to come to Ammanford to see it for myself. It was amazing!"

After the Split, Sandra went to i-smooth community cafe to deliver a talk about how the Fairtrade trading system has helped her and other small scale banana farmers in St Lucia by guaranteeing them a fair price for their bananas. She also talked about the help the farmers received from the Fairtrade social premium fund to help rebuild their farms after they were wiped out by a recent hurricane.

Sandra also talked about how she had been given a very warm welcome to Wales, although she would have liked warmer temperatures!

Ammanford Fairtrade Campaigner Phil Broadhurst, who had been escorting Sandra around Carmarthenshire on her visit to Wales, said : "We took her to see the banana trees at The National Botanic Garden, and even in the tropical glass house there it was a lot colder than in St Lucia!"

Assembly member Rhodri Glyn Thomas attended the event and was presented with a copy of a Fairtrade Foundation report on supporting smallholder farmers.

The night was rounded off with Sandra presenting a certificate recognising Ammanford's renewal of Fairtrade Town status to Town and County councillor Deian Harries on behalf of the people of Ammanford. Ammanford was the first Fairtrade Town in Wales and has now been a Fairtrade Town for over ten years.

Phil Broadhurst said : "We have been a Fairtrade Town for a long time now, but we still have a long way to go. There are still a lot of people in the town who need to hear and think about Fairtrade more. Whenever you meet producers directly, you are reminded of the importance of buying goods with the Fairtrade mark, and I hope that will stay with everyone who attended the Banana Split and met Sandra."

Carmarthenshire maintains its Fairtrade status

Its official – Carmarthenshire has been awarded Fairtrade status three years in a row.

The county has been recognised for its continued support in promoting the use and availability of Fairtrade products.

A large number of local shops, cafes, and restaurants including Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Marks and Spencer and Lidl now stock Fairtrade goods.

For two weeks every year communities across Wales and the UK celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight in a bid to raise awareness and the sale of products.

To mark the event, and as part of the council’s Start2BSmart sustainability campaign, the council linked up with local wholesaler Alan Price of Cafe Fair Trade to taste test different coffees and teas.

Executive board member for sustainability Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council encourages the use of Fairtrade products as much as possible and is thrilled to receive the status once again. Fair trade encourages environmental responsibility and sustainability, and often lends to more natural and organic means of production, thereby reducing the impact on the environment.”

Fair trade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

 

Cafe Fair trade coffee company, which has a base in Burry Port, was formed 11 years ago to deliver Fairtrade coffee to the work place and coffee shops.

Owner Alan Pice said: “We source our coffee beans from some of the world’s best coffee producers, and by buying through Fairtrade, we get the pick of the crop enabling us to make amazing coffees.”

For more information on Fair trade beverages visit www.cafefairtrade.co.uk

 

Pic: Cafe Fair Trade owner Alan Price serves up Fairtrade coffee to council worker Ruth Rees.

Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cadw ei statws Masnach Deg

Mae'n swyddogol – mae Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi ennill statws Masnach Deg dair blynedd yn olynol.

Mae'r sir wedi cael cydnabyddiaeth am ei chefnogaeth barhaus o ran hyrwyddo'r nwyddau Masnach Deg sydd ar gael, ynghyd â'r defnydd ohonynt.

Bellach mae nifer fawr o siopau lleol, caffis, a bwytai, gan gynnwys Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Marks and Spencer, a Lidl yn gwerthu  nwyddau Masnach Deg.

Am bythefnos bob blwyddyn mae cymunedau ledled Cymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig yn dathlu Pythefnos Masnach Deg er mwyn cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth o nwyddau a'r gwerthiant ohonynt.

Er mwyn rhoi sylw i'r digwyddiad, ac fel rhan o ymgyrch gynaliadwyedd 'Cychwyn Callio' y Cyngor, ymunodd y Cyngor â'r cyfanwerthwr lleol Alan Price o gwmni Café Fair Trade i brofi gwahanol baneidiau o goffi a the.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Jim Jones, yr Aelod o'r Bwrdd Gweithredol dros Gynaliadwyedd:  “Mae'r Cyngor yn hybu'r defnydd o nwyddau Masnach Deg cymaint â phosib, ac mae'n hynod o falch o gael ennill y statws hwn unwaith yn rhagor. Mae Masnach Deg yn annog pobl i fod yn gyfrifol ac yn gynaliadwy o ran yr amgylchedd, gan roi bod yn aml i ffyrdd mwy naturiol ac organig o gynhyrchu, a thrwy hynny leihau'r effaith ar yr amgylchedd."

Diben Masnach Deg yw sicrhau bod ffermwyr a gweithwyr yn y byd datblygol ar eu hennill yn sgil gwell prisiau, amodau gwaith boddhaol, cynaliadwyedd lleol, a thelerau masnachu teg. Trwy osod rheidrwydd ar gwmnïau i dalu prisiau cynaliadwy, mae Masnach Deg yn mynd i'r afael â'r annhegwch sydd ynghlwm wrth fasnachu confensiynol, sydd gan amlaf wedi gwahaniaethu yn erbyn y cynhyrchwyr tlotaf a gwannaf yn y gorffennol.    Mae Masnach Deg yn galluogi'r cynhyrchwyr hynny i wella eu sefyllfa ac i gael rhagor o reolaeth dros eu bywydau.

 

Cafodd cwmni coffi Café Fair Trade, sydd â safle ym Mhorth Tywyn, ei ffurfio 11 mlynedd yn ôl i gyflenwi coffi Masnach Deg i weithleoedd a siopau coffi.

Dywedodd Alan Price, y perchennog: “Rydym ni'n cael ein ffa coffi gan rai o gynhyrchwyr coffi gorau'r byd, a chan ein bod yn prynu drwy Fasnach Deg rydym ni'n cael y cynnyrch gorau sy'n golygu ein bod yn gallu gwneud coffi gwych."

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am ddiodydd Masnach Deg, ewch i: www.cafefairtrade.co.uk

 

Llun: Alan Price, perchennog Café Fair Trade, yn gweini coffi Masnach Deg i Ruth Rees, un o weithwyr y Cyngor.

Banana i bawb o blant y sir

Bananas sydd ar feddyliau disgyblion Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Mae miloedd o blant cynradd y sir wedi bod yn gwledda ar y ffrwyth maethlon hwn a hefyd wedi bod yn dysgu o lygad y ffynnon beth yw bod yn ffermwr bananas.

Yn ystod Pythefnos Masnach Deg mae Sandra Joseph, sy'n ffermwr o Ddwyrain y Caribî, wedi bod yn ymweld ag ysgolion ledled y sir i roi cipolwg prin ar fyd sy'n bell bell o drefi a phentrefi Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Mae'r digwyddiad blynyddol hwn, sy'n cael ei gynnal dros bythefnos, yn hyrwyddo telerau masnach deg i ffermwyr a gweithwyr yn y byd datblygol drwy ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gwmnïau dalu prisiau cynaliadwy iddynt am eu cynnyrch. Hefyd nod y pythefnos yw hybu amodau gwaith teg a chynaliadwyedd lleol mewn llefydd lle mae hanes o wahaniaethu yn erbyn y cynhyrchwyr tlotaf a lleiaf.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Keith Davies, yr Aelod o Fwrdd Gweithredol Sir Gaerfyrddin dros Addysg a Gwasanaethau Plant: “Mae Pythefnos Masnach Deg yn gyfle perffaith i addysgu plant ynghylch o ble y mae gwahanol fwydydd yn dod ac ynghylch sut y maen nhw'n cael eu cynhyrchu? Ac rwyf am annog pobl i roi cynnig ar gynnyrch Masnach Deg nad ydyn nhw wedi ei brynu o'r blaen."

Yn ogystal bydd plant y sir yn bwyta bananas mewn prydau arbennig sy'n cael eu gweini i nodi Pythefnos Masnach Deg rhwng Chwefror 25 a Mawrth 10.

Dywedodd Sandra Weigel, Rheolwr y Gwasanaethau Arlwyo: “Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn dangos ein cefnogaeth i Fasnach Deg am ei bod yn berthnasol iawn i'n hymdrechion i ddarparu prydau ysgol sy'n iachus ac yn faethlon gytbwys, ac sydd hefyd yn sicrhau nad yw adnoddau'r ddaear yn cael eu hysbeilio.  Ar ben hynny mae'n werth cefnogi Masnach Deg am fod bananas a bwydydd iach eraill yn llesol inni.

Mae'n beth da fod y plant yn cael profi rhywbeth gwahanol, a'u bod yn dysgu am egwyddorion Masnach Deg."

Mae bananas yn tyfu yn y trofannau. Maent yn gyforiog o garbohydradau, a hefyd maent yn cynnwys potasiwm, ffosfforws, a fitaminau A a C.

MAE'N AMSER!

Byddwn yn cynnal ein Banana Sblit Enfawr heno yn Arcade, Rhydaman.

Byddwn yn adeiladu'r banana sblit am 5.30 ac yna ei bwyta am 6.00.

Eleni rydym yn ffodus o gael ffrinadiau o "Cymru masnach Deg" a Sandra Joseph, ffermwarig banana masnach deg o St lucia gyda ni.

 

Dewch yn llu i gefnogi - a bwyta!!

IT'S HERE!

The Annual Giant Banana Split is being held tonight at the Arcade, Ammanford.

We will be building from 5.30 onwards and the eating will start at 6.00pm

We will have representatives from Fairtrade Wales presnt as well as Sandra Joseph, a fairtrade banana farmer from St Lucia with us.

Please come and support - and even better eat!

Celebrating Carmarthenshire's Fairtrade County Status

 

Carmarthenshire has  had its Fairtrade County status renewed and to celebrate the fact a Certificate was presented to the County Council at University of Wales Trinity St David.

In the photo Sandra Joseph, a Fairtrade Banana Farmer from St Lucia, and Rebecca Turner from Fairtrade Foundation are presenting Sian Thomas and Deian Harries, County Councillors with the Fairtrade Certificate.

 

Dathlu Statws Masnach Deg Sir Gar

Mae Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi ail ennill ei statws fel Sir Masnach Deg ac i ddathlu'r achlysur cyflwynwyd Tystysgrif Masnach Deg i'r Cyngor yn Y Drindod Dewi Sant.

 

Yn y llun mae swyddog o Cyngrair  Masnach Deg yn cyflwyno'r tystysgrif i ddau Cynghorwr Sir, sef Sian Thomas a Deian Harries.

 

Children set to tuck in to tasty sustainable lunches

Schoolchildren across Carmarthenshire will have a double serving of sustainable lunches later this month, in support of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.

The county’s Catering Service, part of the local authority, is laying on two special meals to mark the event, which will run from February 25 to March 10.

On Monday, February 25, pupils can tuck into a tasty homemade spaghetti bolognaise with peas and garlic bread, followed by Fairtrade banana, ice cream and homemade hot chocolate sauce

On Monday, March 4, children will be treated to a chicken korma or quorn korma, mixed rice, naan bread, peas or sweetcorn, followed by Fairtrade chocolate scone and fruit juice.

Fairtrade Fortnight encourages fair terms of trade for millions of farmers and workers in developing countries. Climate change, rising food and fuel costs, and volatile market prices mean they face an uncertain future.

The council’s Sustainability Champion, Cllr Jim Jones, said: “It is vitally important that children are taught from a young age about where their food comes from, and how it is produced.  Choosing and asking for Fairtrade is one way to ensure farmers and workers can farm into the future, and together we’re making steady progress but we need to reach more of the people who need a fairer deal from trade.

The menus have been specially devised using the Saffron system which measures nutritional quality to the milligram.

Catering services manager Sandra Weigel said: “Last year was a huge success and we hope this year will build on that.

“It is important we show our support to Fairtrade as it complements our efforts to deliver a healthy and nutritionally balanced school meals service. It also helps educate the children about the ethics of Fairtrade.”

For further information on Fairtrade Fortnight visit www.fairtradewales.com

Plant yn paratoi i roi cynnig ar ginio cynaliadwy blasus

Bydd plant ysgol ledled Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cael dau ginio cynaliadwy yn hwyrach y mis hwn er mwyn cefnogi ymgyrch Pythefnos Masnach Deg eleni.

Mae Gwasanaeth Arlwyo'r Sir, sy'n rhan o'r Awdurdod lleol, yn coginio dau ginio arbennig er mwyn dathlu'r achlysur a fydd yn cael ei gynnal rhwng 25 Chwefror hyd 10 Mawrth.

Ddydd Llun, 25 Chwefror, gall disgyblion fwynhau spaghetti bolognaise cartref blasus gyda phys a bara garlleg ac yna i bwdin, banana Masnach Deg, hufen iâ a saws siocled poeth cartref.

Ddydd Llun, 4 Mawrth, bydd plant yn cael Korma Cyw Iâr neu Korma Quorn, reis cymysg, bara naan, pys neu gorn melys ac yna i ddilyn byddant yn cael sgon siocled Masnach Deg a sudd ffrwythau.

Mae Pythefnos Masnach Deg yn hyrwyddo telerau masnach deg i filiynau o ffermwyr a gweithwyr mewn gwledydd sy'n datblygu. Mae newid yn yr hinsawdd, costau cynyddol bwyd a thanwydd a phrisiau marchnad ansefydlog yn golygu eu bod yn wynebu dyfodol ansicr.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Jim Jones, sef Hyrwyddwr Cynaliadwyedd y Cyngor: “Mae'n hanfodol bwysig bod plant yn dysgu o oed cynnar o ble mae eu bwyd yn dod a sut caiff bwydydd eu cynhyrchu.  Mae dewis a gofyn am gynnyrch Masnach Deg yn un ffordd o sicrhau bod ffermwyr a gweithwyr yn gallu amaethu yn y dyfodol a chyda'n gilydd rydym yn gwneud cynnydd cyson ond mae angen inni gyrraedd mwy o bobl sydd angen bargen decach wrth fasnachu.

Mae'r bwydlenni wedi cael eu llunio'n arbennig gan ddefnyddio system Saffron sy'n mesur ansawdd maethol i'r milligram agosaf.

Meddai Sandra Weigel, Rheolwr y Gwasanaethau Arlwyo: “Roedd ymgyrch y llynedd yn llwyddiant ysgubol ac rydym yn gobeithio y bydd yr un eleni yn adeiladu ar hynny. 

“Mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n dangos ein cefnogaeth i Fasnach Deg oherwydd mae'n ategu ein hymdrechion i ddarparu gwasanaeth prydau ysgol sy'n iachus ac yn faethol. Yn ogystal, mae'n helpu i addysgu'r plant ynghylch moeseg Masnach Deg."

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth ynghylch Pythefnos Masnach Deg, ewch i www.fairtradewales.com