Christmas can be a festival of consumerism but more and more of us are trying to shop ethically and give gifts with a heart. There are lots of fair trade shops in the region, as well as some of the UK’s biggest fair trade suppliers.

All’s Fair – A small business based near Selby selling fairly traded gifts and homewares online and at markets and events across Yorkshire

Black Yak – Working with knitters in Nepal for over 20 years they sell on markets around the region and are regulars on York market. They also supply some of the other fair trade shops.

Ethical Roots – Selling online and at events in the York area, Ethical Roots stocks a range of fairly traded gifts, clothing and accessories and homewares.

Fairer World – A York institution, Fairer World can be found at 84 Gillygate, York YO31 7EQ and sells a full range of Fairtrade food and drinks as well as fairly traded crafts from around the world

Fair Grounds – Winner of the Ethical Trade Award at Glastonbury, Fair Grounds sources their goods from a range of countries including Palestine, Uganda and Mexico. They sell at festivals, markets and online, as well as supplying a number of fair trade shops.

Fair Trader – Based at 32-34 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 2JS the shop stocks a wide range of Fairtrade food and drink, fairly traded crafts and gifts, toys and fashion accessories.

Good Taste – This fair trade shop in the Broomhills area of Sheffield opened in 2015 and stocks a wide range of Fairtrade food and drink as well as lots of fairly traded crafts and gifts from 25 different countries. 195 Whitham Road, Sheffield S10 2SN

Harrogate Fair Trade Shop – Packed into the porch of St Peter’s Church, Harrogate HG1 1RW this is a little gem of a shop. They have now opened a dedicated Christmas area with fair trade Christmas decorations as well as a great range of Fairtrade food and drink and fairly traded gift ideas.

Namaste UK – Based in Skipton this is one of the biggest fair trade suppliers in the UK. Dealing direct with producers in India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam and more they supply most fair trade shops in the UK with gift items, accessories and clothing.

Samsara Crafts – You’ll find this shop at Unit 40  (on the slope!) in the Princes Quay shopping centre in Hull. They have been buying direct from their producer groups in Indonesia for many years but you will also find goods from other fair trade suppliers.

Shared Earth – The region’s only WFTO member, their shop at 1 Minster Gates, York YO1 7HL stocks a wide range of fairly traded craft, gift and food items mainly sourced direct from their producer groups around the world. Shared Earth is also one of the biggest suppliers for the UK’s fair trade shops.

Sonia’s Smile – This fair trade shop at 85 Main Street, Haworth BD22 8DA specialises in fair trade jewellery, accessories and clothing from around the world but you can also find a range of Fairtrade food.

Suma – This Halifax- based co-operative is one of the main suppliers of organic, vegan, and Fairtrade food and drink to shops including fair trade shops.

The Africa House – Based in North Yorkshire, The Africa House sources craft and gift items from Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. They sell online and supply to shops.

York Scarves – As the name suggests they specialise in scarves – from basic net scarves to beautifully woven and dyed silk scarves their Indian artisans live in one of the poorest areas of India. They supply fair trade shops.

York Fair Trade Forum held its AGM and annual social on Monday 15 October.

The group heard about the great work the forum has been doing across the city working with both York University and York St John University, and holding a successful Fairtrade Breakfast in a city centre cafe during Fairtrade Fortnight. Attended by over a dozen local councillors the breakfast was featured on the local news programme York TV. The forum organises a Schools Conference every year and holds information and fundraising stalls at community events including York Pride.

The keynote speaker was Catalina Quiroz-Nino who is a visiting professor at York St John University. Catalina told the group about the COCLA co-operative who work with thousands of farmers and artisans in Peru, mainly in the mountainous Andean regions. Farmers from the co-operative grow, among other things, Cafe Direct’s Machu Picchu coffee, one of the UK’s best selling Fairtrade products. We learned about the challenges faced by farmers with climate change, coffee rust disease and the Peruvian government’s policy to support mining at the expense of other forms of industry.

COCLA is keen to stress that the UN’s sustainable development goals offer them the best future and urge all fair trade campaigners to promote these goals and help achieve them by 2030.