Go bananas! That’s the message from parish councillors in Kennington, who are showcasing the world of Fairtrade in the village hall today.

It is one of many events taking place across the county to publicise Fairtrade products as part of Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until Sunday, March 8.

All morning, villagers are invited to enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee – or a banana, which are being provided in preparation for the national Fairtrade 24-hour banana-eating record attempt taking place next Friday and Saturday.

Parish council vice-chairman Robin Mason stepped forward to lead the campaign to win Fairtrade status for Kennington after the idea was brought up at last year’s annual general meeting.

He said: “We want to publicise, inform and educate folk as to the advantages of Fairtrade because it’s a vast subject.

“Fairtrade means producers get a premium for their goods, which means they can sustain and build communities.

“It gives producers purpose and justice, but we can still get good deals.”

Mr Mason said he had contacted more than 50 businesses, shops and community groups in Kennington to support the campaign, including the Co-op, the village’s grocery stop, and was confident the village could win Fairtrade status by the end of the year.

For a organisation to be able to call itself Fairtrade, it must provide at least two Fairtrade products.

Mr Mason said: “We want signs put up at the entrances to the village to let people know we are a Fairtrade village. But we need to get the whole village on board.”

Fairtrade coffee and products are also on sale at the Scout Hut in Marston Road, Oxford, opposite the Somerset pub, today, while Oxford Brookes University — the world’s first Fairtrade university — is marking Fairtrade Fortnight with a series of activities.

On Thursday, staff from the university’s directorate of estates and facilities management will play the first game of five-a-side football using Fairtrade footballs bought by Brookes Centre for Sport.

Last week, scores of campaigners, including the executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation Harriet Lamb, met at Oxford’s Town Hall to celebrate the city being awarded Fairtrade status for the fourth year on the trot.

There are more than 50 cafés and shops selling Fairtrade goods in Oxford – double the number two years ago.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk