In various cities across Spain, Fair Trade Day has become a key date for discussing responsible consumption , labor rights, and sustainability. Throughout May, city councils, NGOs, universities, parishes, and community groups are promoting fairs, markets, workshops, and information campaigns to bring this trading model to the public eye and focus on how we buy and its impact.
This movement, which has been working in Spain for four decades , is using this day to remind everyone that fair trade is not just a label on the packaging, but a different way of connecting producers, distributors, and consumers. From Andalusia to Castile and León, passing through Navarre, the Basque Country, Aragon, and Cantabria, the World Fair Trade Day agenda is packed with activities designed for all ages.
Four decades of the Fair Trade movement in Spain
The State Coordinator of Fair Trade (CECJ) has used this commemoration to highlight the 40-year history of the movement in Spain , in an international context it describes as "deeply complex." Since the opening of the first specialized store in 1986, the network has expanded throughout the country, consolidating a network of organizations working towards a more equitable trading model.
Currently, the national movement comprises 29 organizations affiliated with the CECJ , which manage 44 stores and 130 points of sale throughout Spain. In 2024, these entities collaborated with 138 cooperatives and producer organizations in 48 countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, promoting living wages, safe working conditions, gender equality, and the fight against child labor.
A significant portion of the revenue comes from food: Fairtrade certified products reached almost €158 million , of which approximately 96% corresponds to coffee, cocoa, sugar, and tea. These items are complemented by cosmetics, textiles, toys, jewelry, and decorative objects, expanding the offerings for those seeking consumption alternatives more aligned with their values.
Furthermore, fair trade principles have begun to extend to state-level agri-food supply chains , with initiatives aimed at ensuring fair prices and suitable conditions for local production. This networking extends to organizations such as REAS Network of Networks, the NGO Coordinator, the Platform for Responsible Businesses, and the Zero Deforestation Alliance, as well as international partnerships with the Fair Trade Advocacy Office and the World Fair Trade Organization.
Political advocacy has been another key front. Fair trade has been mentioned in various Spanish laws since 2000 , beginning with the Law on International Cooperation for Development. Later, it was incorporated as a criterion for responsible public procurement in the Public Sector Contracts Law and has been the subject of several non-binding resolutions in Congress. This journey culminates in its recognition as an alternative solidarity-based model in the new Comprehensive Law on Social Economy , which encourages public administrations to actively support it.
Jerez: fair trade and gastronomic capital
The city of Jerez has once again joined the celebration of Fair Trade Day, commemorated on the second Saturday of May, linking this edition with its status as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy . The aim is to leverage the appeal of local cuisine to demonstrate how gastronomy can be an ally of fair trade products and more conscious consumption.
The City Council's Department of Participation, Volunteering, and Cooperation works year-round with the "Jerez for Fair Trade" working group to maintain the city's Fair Trade City certification. This alliance includes social organizations, businesses, and educational institutions, among them several schools recognized as Fair Trade Schools, which play a key role in awareness-raising activities.
Due to the Fair Trade Day coinciding with the start of the Horse Fair, much of the program has been moved to dates after the festivities . The Jerez educational community will play a leading role, with educational activities often focused on gastronomy, to better connect with the daily lives of students and their families.
Among the initiatives promoted by the Department of Citizen Participation is the publication of a recipe book made with fair trade products , developed by SAFA Jerez. This recipe book will be presented alongside a new awareness-raising tool: aprons made with fair trade fabrics and bearing the logo of the Gastronomic Capital, the result of a collaboration with Fair Trade Ibérica.
The Jerez Fair Trade City Steering Group comprises the City Council—through its Citizen Participation and Commerce departments—and various organizations, including the Cádiz Provincial NGO Coordinating Body, Oxfam Intermón, PROYDE, Madre Coraje, Cáritas, Bululú, Inter, and Fondo Ecosoje. This network of associations has been working together for years to emphasize that fair trade is based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, striving for greater equity in international trade and prioritizing social and environmental criteria.
Burgos: health, sustainability and university life
In Burgos, International Fair Trade Day is being commemorated under the slogan "To Our Health ," with a program of events that complements the traditional Earth Fair. The City Council, through its Social Services Department, emphasizes that the goal is to highlight how purchasing decisions directly impact the lives of producers, the sustainability of the planet, and the health of the community.
The president of the Social Services Management, Mila del Campo, emphasized that fair trade not only focuses on guaranteeing decent working conditions and eradicating child labor , but also promotes responsible production models that protect the environment and offer healthier, higher-quality products. Burgos is part of a network of more than 8.000 towns and cities committed to these values.
Amycos, one of the organizations involved in the municipal fair trade group, has announced a film series dedicated to this theme , which will take place during the last three weeks of May and the first week of June at the Foro Solidario (Solidarity Forum). The program will conclude with the screening of a short film and a discussion with some of its creators at the Van Golem cinemas.
Gastronomy is also part of Burgos's events calendar. At the Cáritas headquarters, a meal combining fair trade products with locally sourced ingredients is being organized by "El gusto de servirle" (The Pleasure of Serving You), and on May 23rd, Plaza de la Flora will host a charity vermouth event as a prelude to the White Night activities. These initiatives aim to connect the public with fair trade in everyday experiences such as eating, drinking, and enjoying leisure time.
The University of Burgos, through its Cooperation Center, is adding its own initiatives. Between May 11 and 14, fair trade chocolate tastings, a charity market, and practical workshops such as brownie making will be held at the Camino de Santiago Residence. A clothing swap, aimed at extending the life of garments through exchange, is also planned, along with an open mic at El Granero, where a manifesto will be read and local, zero-kilometer, and fair trade products will be sold.
Valladolid: urban exhibition and educational activities
In Valladolid, the City Council has launched a comprehensive program of events to mark World Fair Trade Day, coordinated by the Department of Senior Citizens, Family, and Social Services. The most visible initiative is the open-air exhibition “Your Purchase is Your Voice,” located on the Paseo de Las Moreras, opposite the children's playground, and open to the public from May 7 to July 7.
Through various information panels, this exhibition invites reflection on the role of consumer choices in building a fairer and more sustainable economic model . Councilor Rodrigo Nieto participated in the opening ceremony, emphasizing the city's commitment to promoting responsible consumption and disseminating alternative trade practices that guarantee decent working conditions for producers, especially in countries of the Global South.
The exhibition is complemented by a program of activities that includes educational workshops in schools , designed to introduce students to fair trade from an early age. Throughout May, fair trade chocolate tastings will be held in various community centers, using a product as common as cocoa to explain topics such as the value chain and the impact of consumer purchases.
The City Council has also organized a raffle of fair trade products , designed as a participatory way to introduce these items to the public. In collaboration with the University of Valladolid, information points will be set up in libraries and outreach activities will be carried out to raise awareness of this trade model in the city.
With this set of proposals, the local institution wants to strengthen Valladolid's image as a city involved in fair trade and conscious consumption , mobilizing administrations, social entities, and residents to move towards more responsible purchasing habits.
Teruel and the work of Caritas: two decades of experience
In Aragon, Cáritas Teruel has established itself as a leading organization in the fair trade movement. Twenty years ago, it opened its first shop in the city of Teruel and, later, another in the town of Alcorisa, from where it has launched awareness and outreach campaigns that have resonated with a large part of the population.
The sale of fair trade products is channeled through the Koopera store in Teruel and the establishment in Alcorisa . The work of the volunteers in the latter town has been recognized on several occasions: in 2020, in the 1st National Competition of Cities and Towns for Fair Trade within the category of initiatives supporting local, organic, and fair production and trade; in 2021, with the FAS Award for Solidarity Trajectory; and in 2023, with the Alcorisa Commercial Town award in the Fair Trade category, given to the shop known as "Tienda con Corazón" (Shop with Heart).
To coincide with World Fair Trade Day, Cáritas Teruel has organized a full schedule of activities in parishes and schools throughout the province . The first special sales point will be set up at the Colegio de las Viñas, followed by events at the parishes of La Fuenfresca and San Julián. Throughout the month, volunteers from Caminreal, in the Jiloca region, will join the effort, and temporary sales points will be established in other municipalities such as Cantavieja.
The awareness program will continue throughout June, with new activities in Monreal del Campo and in parishes in the capital such as Santa Emerenciana and San José. All these initiatives aim to highlight that fair trade is a practical tool for supporting producer communities and, at the same time, an educational resource for discussing global justice in local settings like neighborhood parishes.
Bilbao: party in Santutxu and focus on the textile industry
In Bizkaia, the Fair Trade Network has organized a festive day in Plaza del Karmelo, in the Santutxu neighborhood of Bilbao , with the support and sponsorship of the City Council. The celebration coincides with World Fair Trade Day and will take place in the afternoon, from 17:00 PM to 20:00 PM, with activities designed for all ages.
The program includes information and sales points where visitors can learn more about the work of the network's organizations and purchase fair trade products. Creative and recycling workshops are also offered, such as a workshop on making wallets from repurposed materials, along with other activities to make the day more participatory and engaging for the community.
One of this year's chosen themes is reflecting on the conditions under which clothing is manufactured , connecting fair trade with the textile industry and the impact of fast fashion. The Bizkaia Fair Trade Network wants to use this event to highlight that behind every garment lies a production chain where labor rights, wages, and the environment are at stake.
The day will conclude with a musical set by DJ Hija del Nopal . Among the participating organizations is Kidenda, a non-profit association that has been promoting fair trade and responsible consumption in Bizkaia since 2002. Comprised of a small technical team and a broad network of volunteers, Kidenda collaborates with educational centers, public administrations, and solidarity economy networks, and has become a leading organization in the Basque Country and throughout Spain.
Pamplona: popular fair in San Francisco Square
In Navarre, Pamplona has organized a large fair trade festival in San Francisco Square , combining product stalls, workshops, and cultural activities. This event, which lasts all day, brings together organizations such as Adsis-Equimercado, Alboan, SETEM, and Oxfam Intermón, with the support of the City Council and the collaboration of local media and organizations like Medicus Mundi.
The event is designed as an open space to discover fair trade products firsthand , participate in children's activities, and enjoy music, dance, and short theatrical performances. In this way, the aim is for the celebration to go beyond mere rhetoric and connect with the daily lives and leisure activities of families in Pamplona.
The presence of various international cooperation organizations also helps to explain the link between fair trade, development cooperation, and human rights . Through their stands and outreach activities, they offer informational materials, share experiences from field projects, and invite visitors to get involved in volunteer initiatives or responsible consumption campaigns.
Santander: market in the Town Hall square and focus on Oxfam Intermón
In Cantabria, the Santander City Council, through OICOS, has joined the commemoration of World Fair Trade Day with a market set up in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (City Hall Square ). At this location, an Oxfam Intermón stall offers the public a wide range of fair trade products, especially food and textiles.
The mayor, Gema Igual, and the councilor for Development Cooperation, Mateo Echevarría, visited the area, highlighting the importance of an event that aims to promote responsible consumption and disseminate the principles of this movement , which focuses on global justice and the fight against inequality. The program also includes a performance by the Ronda Altamira Choir, storytelling, cooperative games workshops, and raffles for baskets of fair trade products.
This initiative is part of the actions the City Council is developing within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda , with the aim of extending responsible consumption to both in-store and online purchases. OICOS emphasizes that the value of these products goes beyond economic benefit, as their production respects ethical and social criteria, as well as the protection of labor and environmental rights.
In Santander, Oxfam Intermón manages the city's only fair trade shop , located on Cervantes Street, very close to the City Hall Square. The shop also serves as an awareness and volunteer space, connected to campaigns on responsible consumption, international cooperation, and labor rights.
This shop offers products from cooperatives and small producers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America . While the selection focuses primarily on food—coffee, chocolate, cocoa, tea, sugar, cookies, and jams—it also includes clothing, accessories, natural cosmetics, jewelry, decorative items, stationery, and toys. The philosophy is simple: to guarantee fairer prices for producers, avoid exploitative practices, and support production models with social and environmental responsibility.
A Fair Trade Day to talk about responsible consumption
In all these regions, Fair Trade Day activities share a common underlying idea: to remind us that every purchase is a small political and social decision , capable of influencing the lives of producers and the state of the planet. From neighborhood fairs to urban exhibitions, chocolate tastings, solidarity markets, film screenings, and creative workshops, the fair trade movement seeks to translate its principles into concrete and accessible experiences.
What initiatives in cities like Jerez, Burgos, Valladolid, Pamplona, Bilbao, Teruel, and Santander demonstrate is that fair trade is no longer a fringe proposal, but rather a framework for discussing global justice, labor rights, and sustainability at the local level. With the support of the State Coordinator and a growing network of organizations and public administrations, this World Fair Trade Day is becoming an annual opportunity to rethink how we consume and what kind of economic relationships we want to support with our money.
