Mary Popple interview

<p>In this episode we meet Mary Popple the current chair of <a href='https://www.jts.co.uk'>JTS</a>, the company that imports fair trade goods into Scotland and distributes them throughout the UK.<br/><br/>Mary grew up in Northern Ireland during the 50s and 60s on the border between the republic and the north. Her father was a church minister who tried not to take sides and, as tensions increased, took his family to Scotland. Those early years in northern Ireland gave Mary a strong sense of the importance of equality and of treating people fairly.<br/><br/>Mary has had an interesting journey to fair trade that has gone via the diamond industry and business management. It was her expertise in managing a business that led her to being invited onto the board of JTS. When she was a member of the <a href='https://www.fairtrade-standrews.org.uk'>St. Andrew&apos;s Fair Trade group</a> they contacted the Royal and Ancient Golf club to ask if they would consider using fair trade teas and coffees. A successful relationship was established and now it is written into their procedures to use fair trade products at the Open golf championship.<br/><br/>Mary has a bright and positive outlook on life and it was a real pleasure to listen to her thoughts on how a fair trade business should be run. </p>