The FIG Tree, Fair Trade Visitor Centre & Café in Garstang, Lancashire
FIG Tree News
Become a Friend of The FIG Tree
Come and visit The FIG Tree; the world's first international Fair Trade Visitor Centre located centrally in the world's first Fair Trade Town. The people of Garstang voted for their unique status at a public meeting in April 2000 and since then over 1,000 Fair Trade Towns in 23 countries worldwide, including London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Brussels, Copenhagen, Oslo, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Vancouver and Wellington in New Zealand have all followed in Garstang's footsteps.
Garstang also forms a part of the Fair Trade Triangle with the cocoa farming community and Africa's first Fair Trade Town of New Koforidua in Ghana and Media, Pennsylvania, the first Fair Trade Town on the American continents. The modern day Fair Trade Triangle replaces the three corners of the infamous slave trade triangle of the past.
The town of Garstang has been a pioneering force in the Fairtrade movement. They provide a best practice example of how communities can work together for the benefit of society as a whole. The establishment of the FIG Tree international visitor centre is the logical next stage in maintaining Garstang as a beacon for Fairtrade.
Gordon Brown MP, former Prime Minister, February 2011
The beacon that has started in Garstang can spread like wildfire through the whole country and beyond.
George Foulkes MP, former Under Secretary of State, June 2000To celebrate Garstang's international success the FIG Tree Centre will provide;
Fair Trade Exhibition
In the world's first heritage and visitor centre that focuses exclusively on fair trade and trade injustice by exploring the four themes; Fair Trade, The Atlantic Slave Trade, Quaker Heritage in '1652 Country' and Chocolate.
Café and Shop
The café will use exclusively local and fair trade ingredients in all products where possible and provide a community hub for both residents and visitors to Garstang using our triangular link with New Koforidua, and Media, PA. The gift shop will sell fair trade items and musical instruments from Ghana including custom made Djembi drums.
Chocolate Making Events
An educational outreach and learning centre for all ages: including our innovative and unique interactive chocolate making events using cocoa from New Koforidua and live video links.
Fair Trade Way
Fairtrade refreshments, souvenirs and information for ramblers at the start of the Fair Trade Way; the world's first long-distance fair trade heritage trail that links Fairtrade Towns between Garstang and Keswick.
