Free market ideologues have used Fairtrade Fortnight to attack what they regard as counter-productive do-gooding, says Simon Barrow. But what does freedom mean in economic terms, and is fairness something to be left wholly to markets?

Britain’s appetite for Fairtrade produce is higher than most – UK shoppers are the second largest global customers of fairly traded products. But is this news quite as positive as we’ve been led to believe?

Fairtrade Fortnight which began yesterday (Monday) has been given a boost with the announcement of record fairtrade sales figures - but organisers are warning that change is not happening quickly enough for some of the world's poorest people.

If you are keen to do your bit for the developing world, then why not become a fairtrade activist?