The North Beds Fairtrade Steering Group has been building towards the status since a resolution was passed by the Town Hall in September 2004.
The accreditation means Bedford Borough has made a commitment to supporting fair trade, with businesses, local people and the council all supporting the movement.

Group coordinator Hazel Mitchell said: "It has taken a while, but that is about standard.

"To begin with we had to get council support, and from there it was quite a painstaking process.

"We had to research which businesses offer fair trade goods, see which groups use those products, and we are still contacting all different schools, churches and businesses who try to be fair trade in their day-to-day work, even down to things like what refreshments they provide to staff."

A Fair Trade Directory for North Beds, which lists places which sell fair trade products, is now available from the Town Hall, shops and libraries.

Mrs Mitchell added: "This is very much part of the global movement to bring justice to the trading arena between consumers and producers in the developing nations, where farmers can very often be exploited as well as being more vulnerable to droughts and other natural disasters.

"Farmers can rely upon getting a fair price with fair trade, and it allows communities to plan ahead by buying facilities such as health care and clean water."

Stephen Luff runs the fair trade stall on Bedford market every Thursday.
He said: "This is excellent news. It has been a long road to get there, but hopefully it means Bedford can help to make a difference.

"Fair trade means more money for the people who grow and produce what we buy, particularly people who traditionally have been fleeced, not by Bedford but by the system."