Sourcing with integrity, respecting our fragile environment and making a difference to the lives of suppliers are important factors THROUGH buying Fairtrade products shoppers can help t guarantee farmers in the developing world a fair and stable price that covers their costs of production and allows them to plan for the future.

Supermarkets like Sainsburys know tha from the increasing popularity over the last 12 months customers are supporting the Fairtrade Mark, and what it stands for Sainsbury s expect its Fairtrade sales t increase by 150 per cent this year from £53m to £130m.

Sainsburys was the first UK retailer t convert its entire banana range to 100 pe r cent Fairtrade.

In addition, since February 2007, 100 pe r cent of the tea, coffee and hot chocolate in its restaurants has been Fairtrade. The muffins and brownies in the restaurants have been made using Fairtrade chocolat and sugar In 2007, one of Sainsburys heads of product technology and development spen t three months on secondment in Kenya, identifying new Fairtrade sourcing opportunities.

Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said; "Banana farmers around the world have been cheering Sainsbury s bold decision to commit to Fairtrade so seriously - Sainsbury s sells half a billion bananas a year, therefore the impact on the banana farmers and their communities will b hugely significant.

Dr Kenny D Anthony, Prime Minister on S Lucia, said: "We hope that Sainsbury s, will continue with its support, particularly as w intensify our efforts to diversify our farming secto and our economies." Sourcing with integrity is about the way tha Sainsburys do business, from the products its sell to the way in which it procures them ensuring that ethical, social and environmenta considerations are built into all our processes." Sainsburys promises its customers that the food it sources will be fresh, tasty, healthy and safe.

It is about supporting British farmers, Fairtrade and organic, but it also moves beyond that t include the way its does business and how i works with its suppliers By working more closely with suppliers Sainsburys is able to provide greater assuranc for its customers that products are sourced wit integrity