Guest blog by Martin Tiedemann, Campaigns & Communications Officer at The Co-operative Party

Fortnight started this week with the news that sales of Fairtrade products have risen to £1.3 billion.

Four out of ten bags of sugar, a third of all bananas and one in four packs of roast and ground coffee sold in this country are Fairtrade.

The theme for this year’s fortnight is Take A Step, encouraging shoppers to try one new product. Find out more at step.fairtrade.org.uk

Earlier this week, the Co-operative Party brought Fairtrade Fortnight to Parliament, hosting an event for dozens of Labour MPs to hear from the Fairtrade movement and – crucially – from Fairtrade farmers about the difference it makes to their lives. And MPs got to try a little chocolate too.

Read about the message Palestinian olive oil farmers Taysir and Riziq brought to Parliament

Shadow International Development Minister Tony Cunningham MP and Shadow DEFRA Minister Fiona O’Donnell MP made a short video at the event underlining their support for Fairtrade.