Tasty treats at the Fairtrade bake-off

In a bid to raise awareness during Fairtrade Fortnight, the Group invited all Primary Six and Year Ten pupils in the Coleraine Borough to get messy in the kitchen and bake with Fairtrade ingredients. The baker who used the most Fairtrade ingredients to make the best looking and tasting cake would be the winner.

John Anderson, of Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group explained: “We wanted to raise awareness of Fairtrade products and encourage their use among local school children and their families.

“A Fairtrade Bake-Off competition seemed like a good idea and the results have been fantastic. Over one hundred children in schools across the Borough took on the challenge by researching the Fairtrade campaign, recipes and ingredients and have made the most delicious looking and tasting Fairtrade cakes, buns, biscuits and fudge. Everyone had a lot of fun getting creative in the kitchen and learning about Fairtrade. Our thanks and congratulations go to all the participants.”

The mayor of Coleraine Borough Council, Alderman Maurice Bradley, was one of the judges at the Fairtrade Bake-Off final.

Alderman Bradley said: “I was amazed at the range of Fairtrade products used in the baking – Fairtrade sugars, ginger, mixed spice, nutmeg, chocolate, cocoa, golden syrup, jam, bananas and lemons.

“These young people have done a great job baking with Fairtrade and I’ve really enjoyed sampling their work. My hearty congratulations go to the staff and pupils of each and every school who took part in the Fairtrade Bake-Off, especially our finalists and winners.”

The winning primary school baker was Rachel, from Ballytober Primary School with her fabulous Fairtrade Shah biscuits. Rachel used an impressive seven Fairtrade ingredients including ginger, mixed spice, nutmeg, sugar, nuts, syrup and chocolate.

In the senior section, Niamh, from St Joseph’s College (Coleraine) took the title of Fairtrade Baker 2012 with her German Chocolate Cake, which had five Fairtrade ingredients including different types of milk and dark chocolate, sugar and coffee.

Buying Fairtrade products means that farmers and growers in countries such as Africa and South and Central America can send their children to school, buy medicines and dig wells for their local community. The Coleraine Borough Fairtrade Group would encourage everyone to buy Fairtrade goods whenever possible.