Troy is now home to Miami County’s first fair trade market, appropriately located on Market Street. Pachamama Market opened on Black Friday and boasts a plethora of colorful clothing, scarves, men’s gifts, jewelry and other handmade items that are 100% certified through the global Fair Trade Federation. The products are shipped to Troy from various countries all over the world and come with a story of hope. The purpose of fair trade is to create opportunity, cultivate environmental stewardship, and support safe and empowering working conditions for artisans.

Lindsay Woodruff is the owner of Pachamama and named the store to mean “Mother Earth” in the language of the ancient Quechua Tribes from the Andes Mountains of Peru. “I love the idea of creating an opportunity for people in my community to have a global impact,” Woodruff said. “In all my professional development and all of my training, I’ve learned that fair trade is not only a sustainable way to actually end global poverty but investing in women is the way to do it.”

Woodruff’s resume is a testimony to her experience and focus on making the world a better place. She has her master’s degree in non-profit management, worked with AmeriCorps, and studied abroad in Peru. She and her husband have spent extensive time learning about the practical development and structures of different socio-economic groups in other countries and how fair trade impacts on people and communities. According to Woodruff’s research, when men have financial opportunities or opportunities in education, they tend to leave their local community; women, on the other hand, reinvest profit in their local area.

“Fair trade and specifically supporting women through fair trade is an approach to business and development based on dialogue, transparency, and respect that seeks to create greater equity in the international trading system,” Woodruff said. “Fair trade supports farmers and craftspeople in developing countries who are socially and economically marginalized.” Finding markets and customers for goods is a challenge that Woodruff is hoping to engage in Troy. All of Pachamama’s products come from Africa, South Asia, and Central and South America.

Pachamama Market has been a long-time dream for Woodruff, who grew up in Tipp City and has lived in the area most of her life. She lives with her family in the area still. Two years ago, when she began acquiring the information and developing the contacts to begin her own business, she started looking at possible locations. 116 S. Market Street came available on November 11. “Miami County is home to groups of people who have the desire to support positive local and global initiatives, small businesses, and those who are less fortunate,” Woodruff said. “I want them to have the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts that give back…and for them to know that there’s a story and person directly benefitting from their purchases here.”