I don't know if you are aware, but we are now in Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until March 19.

The Fairtrade initiative can be traced to Fairtrade Labelling, created in the Netherlands in the late 1980s by Max Havelaar, who launched the first Fairtrade consumer guarantee label in 1988 on coffee from Mexico.

Today, there are 19 organisations in countries around the world, including Fairtrade Foundation UK, that promote the cause in creating fairtrade links with developing countries, covering about five million people worldwide, with Africa the fastest growing part of the network.

The main aim is to promote ethical trading. That involves creating a more equitable and sustainable balance between producers in poor countries and purchasers in affluent countries and, in so doing, to give them some protection in volatile commodity markets.

In other words, to ensure a fair price is paid. It also enhances transparency in trade, so we know where our products are coming from and the conditions in which they are being produced.

In promoting transparency it is hoped that working conditions, not least for women and children, are improved.

It also seeks to foster greater independence among the producers and greater environmental awareness to facilitate sustainable production.

Today, fairtrade is undoubtedly big business. In Britain, there are 1,500 Fairtrade-marked products, achieving annual sales of nearly £200m, including coffee, sugar, bananas and apples.

Recently, Marks & Spencer (M&S) announced that from April, it is to stock only Fairtrade coffee and tea - a total of 38 lines.

According to M&S, this will increase the value of Fairtrade coffee sold in British supermarkets by 18 per cent, and tea by 30 per cent. The M&S announcement follows the decision of Top Shop, owned by the entrepreneur Philip Green, to sell, for a trial period in its London Oxford Street store, clothing made by three Fairtrade fashion companies.

Similarly, Sainsbury's is purchasing Fairtrade cotton to manufacture 200,000 T-shirts.

The movement is growing rapidly and it would seem that shoppers, not least in Britain, are prepared to pay extra to help foreign producers. However, despite its rapid growth, it accounts for only a fraction of the groceries market.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual campaign to raise awareness. It is anticipated that more than 8,000 activities will take place up-and-down the country, not least in 150 Fairtrade Towns.

The growth needs to be sustained but, in doing so, care has to be taken that the principles on which the movement has been based are not undermined or diluted.

The "fair trade" label can be used by anyone and it could, perhaps, easily be exploited. For now, however, have another look at those labels the next time you go shopping.