There seems to be a perception out there that Fairtrade food is always much more expensive than it’s non-Fairtrade equivalent, but that hasn’t been my experience. Fairtrade foods often cost only a nominal amount more, usually in the region of 20c-50c for something like tea or coffee. And there’s some genuine Fairtrade bargains to be had in a variety of shops, including:
- Marks & Spencer have a selection of Fairtrade ground coffee, starting from €3 for a 227g bag.
- Lidl sell bags of Fairtrade organic bananas for €1.49.
- Divine chocolate bars are available in Super Valu for only €1.39.
- Tesco sell own-brand organic Fairtrade instant drinking chocolate (my lord, so many adjectives!), for only €4.49 for a 400g jar.
- Bunches of Fairtrade roses cost €5 in Dunnes.
- Oxfam Fairtrade Shops sell packs of Quinoa Spaghetti for €2, and a kilo of organic brown basmati rice for €4.35. 80 Fairtrade teabags cost €3.30, which is cheaper than Barry’s or Lyons tea in my local Centra.