Our Mission
To provide vital income to disadvantaged artisans and their families in impoverished areas of the world by marketing their handicrafts, telling their stories and promoting economic justice through fair trade.

Our Vision
One day all artisans in the developing countries will earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity & respect and be able to live a life of quality.

Our History
Dick Adams, a local bookstore owner in Ithaca for over 20 years, was inspired to start a fair trade business in Ithaca. He contacted Ten Thousand Villages, a global leader in fair trade, and started working on a plan. A small group of volunteers worked together with one purpose - to see how realistic it would be to launch a nonprofit store dedicated to helping poor artisans around the world. After a 3 month test run, the decision was made in the year 2001 to open a full time store. The store was called Ten Thousand Villages, and became one of 80 stores around the country that shared a mission to help poor artisans earn a fair wage while working together in a fair trade cooperative. The store was quickly embraced by the Ithaca community and has grown into a vibrant business that enjoys strong loyalty and good will in the community.
​
Eventually it became clear that in order to keep growing and help more people around the globe, the store would need to strike out on its own. After much deliberation, the store's board voted in favor of independence, while still maintaining a strong relationship with Ten Thousand Villages. In February of 2014 the business was renamed ONE WORLD MARKET.  The mission of the new business remains the same, but as an independent store, we can join hands with a much wider group of artisans around the world. The store has grown significantly, and continues to add new companies, all members of the international fair trade association. The future looks bright for our new store, and we hope you will come by the store sometime to see for yourself how we've grown and made many positive changes.