Fairtrade does what it says on the tin: it is about better prices for smallholder farmers and workers in developing countries. Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which too often leaves the poorest, weakest producers earning less than it costs them to grow their crops. It's a bit like a national minimum wage for global trade. Not perfect, not a magic want, not a panacea for all the problems of poverty, but a step in the right direction.

Serves 6-8 as a starter

Outlook Amazing what you can do with Japanese managers. Thanks to the small matter of an £8m bung from the Government, more than 1,000 desperately needed jobs are going to be created in the North-east, where Nissan will build some new cars.

What to do

Serves 4

Serves 2

Outlook: Even Dennis the Menace might baulk at pulling off a trick as mendacious as this

Serves 4-6

Serves 4-6

It can save precious time in the kitchen and is the perfect piece of kit for conjuring up warming soups and stews.

Former News of the World chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck today said he had been "proud" to work for the now-defunct Sunday tabloid.

Suttons Seeds has just issued its official top five bestseller list for the season so far, and it goes like this: at number five is its pack of peppery wild rocket. At number four, an old favourite: "White Lisbon" spring onion. At number three, a recently launched mix of tasty, fast-growing lettuce varieties: "Speedy Veg Leaf Salad Mix". At number two, the sweet-flavoured, unchewy carrot "Nantes". And stillthere after months in that coveted number one position – a bit like "(Everything I Do) I Do it for You" by Bryan Adams – is Beetroot "Boltardy".