Our Mission Statement:

Our mission is to promote social justice and economic independence
for disadvantaged people in countries around the world
by providing a market for their original handmade crafts.

Our Principles:

  • We believe that business should be governed not just by rules and profits
    but by values.
  • We support Fair Trade organizations and the values they support: the right of all workers to be able to support themselves and their families through a living wage in dignified and non-exploitative working conditions.
  • We believe that contributing to the development of sustainable self-sufficiency gives individuals dignity and hope, creating stronger societies, which ultimately benefits us all.
  • We purchase and sell, almost exclusively, Fair Trade products, and notify you if it is not purchased this way.
  • We carefully screen all our suppliers for adherence to international Fair Trade guidelines.
  • We pay our own employees living wages and support their families by providing flexible hours.
  • Our products celebrate the rich heritage of diverse cultures in our world.
  • We support responsible and accountable business practices through annual financial disclosure.
  • Above all, we believe that as a society we must not just ask how we can gain most for ourselves, but rather how together we can best strengthen our world.

 

Maurine

Fair Trade Federation

Coop America

Our Founder:

Maurine McTyre-Watts worked for twenty years as a nurse, ten of them as a certified Family Nurse Practioner in poor rural, homeless, migrant and urban American communities. She also volunteered in hospitals in South America and in the Middle East.

Maurine grew up in South America and has traveled extensively in third world countries throughout her adult life. These experiences made her acutely aware of economic inequities and lack of opportunities for millions of people. In 2003, following a trip to Calcutta, India, she decided she wanted to address directly one of the root causes of poverty: the lack of access to economic development and revenue sources. She had first heard of fair trade years earlier. At this point, she decided to work full time in fair trade.

In September, 2004, she opened Fair World Marketplace--a fair trade retail store in DeWitt, NY. She began to speak about the movement wherever possible. In 2006, Fair World Marketplace was accepted into membership in the Fair Trade Federation and joined Co-op America.

In January, 2008, Maurine took the first step in taking Fair World Marketplace beyond retail into new co-op and product development. She traveled to Tanzania in East Africa to establish direct relationships with artisen co-ops and agencies working with them to develop sustainable income resources. See New Projects.