YORK could extend its Fairtrade status by bringing the products into a council cafe and even school meals.

The city council’s cabinet is due to consider a report today on York’s status as a Fairtrade city, and the future for the project, ten years on from when the accreditation was first awarded.

The paper, which will be presented by the cabinet member for homes and safer communities Cllr Linsay Cunningham-Cross, updates cabinet members on progress in promoting Fairtrade goods, and calls on the cabinet to approve more action on Fairtrade.

Staff working in the office of chief executive Kersten England wrote: “The principles of Fairtrade align completely with the council’s drive to eradicate poverty.

“While the poverty in question is far beyond York’s city walls, spreading awareness of these principles is important in raising issues and increasing understanding of fairness both here and abroad.

“Our moral obligation to promote prosperity for all should not be defined by our boundaries.”

Among the proposals is a suggestion that both Café West – the on-site cafe at West Offices run by United Response – and school meals could use more Fairtrade projects.

With the ideas at a very early stage no formal proposals or costings have yet been worked out, according to a spokesman for the council.

Three city schools – Huntington Primary, Park Grove Primary and Canon Lee Secondary – have already met the exacting standards required to achieve Fairtrade school status.

A workplan already set out by the council is aimed at encouraging and helping more schools to get that accreditation.

The report also urges the cabinet to promote York’s Fairtrade credentials more widely.

A “Family Fairtade Trail” taking people to various Fairtrade outlets, but is not available to buy at Visit York, the officers’ report says, and there is an untapped source of publicity for the city in more visibly promoting its Fairtrade badge.

The report adds: “To date, the city has not chosen to visibly promote its Fairtrade status. The result of this is that it will be unknown to many in the city and to the millions of visitors arrive in York each year. There would be a clear benefit in working with out partners to raise the profile of Fairtrade to ensure that residents and visitors alike know where to access Fairtrade products should they chose to.”