What was Mr. Wells doing when he learned about fair trade?

W: How did you become involved in fair trade?
M: My degree was in ecology and I was a founder member of Friends of the Earth in Norridge. It was all green wally type things and great fun. While I was an education worker of the national history museum in London, a friend introduced me to fair trade, which aims to establish a better deal between the consumers and producers. I started offices for sales agent for tradecraft. Fair trade appeals to me because it combines the environmental and development movements.
W: What do you think is the most important next steps in fair trade?
M: We need to find out more about the consumers who should be buying fair trade products but aren’t. Discover what gets in the way. Fair trade in the UK is doing really well at the moment. Strong companies, like Twin and Equal Exchange, have become actively involved in the main strain and about half a million people regularly buy fair trade goods. But some people still hesitate, because they’re unsure of quality. Also we want to broaden the range of fair trade products available.
W: What has been the highlight of your career in fair trade?
M: There is one moment that exits in my mind. When I first joined the fair trade foundation, I visited a tea estate in India to talk to local people and workers. I came away thinking I could raise too many expectations and felt very foreign to them. However, when I returned there 2 years later, I emerged from the plantation gate to find a queue of local people who wanted to talk to me about other changes they hoped for. Two things about this were important. They saw that fair trade existed to improve their situation and they showed a level of trust. They could come to me with complaints, knowing it wouldn’t be counted against them.