The Fair Trader Receive News and Information about our Fair Trade Program.

Development Grants
- Guatemala
- India
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Nicaragua
Market-Building Grants
- East Africa Delegation
- Fair Trade Futures Conference Student Scholarships

When you sign up, you will receive periodic updates about the CRS Fair Trade Program and opportunities to participate in other CRS programs that serve our brothers and sisters in need overseas.

Support Fair Trade

Now you can contribute directly to the CRS Fair Trade Fund through our secure on-line donation platform. One hundred percent of your tax-deductible contributions are used to benefit Fair Trade farmers and artisans.

New Product Development in Mumbai, India

MarketPlace works with 14 cooperatives and small cottage businesses in India consisting of about 450 women artisans and their families. Most of the women in these groups perform h hand embroiders and work at home. The cooperatives and cottage businesses are owned and managed by their low-income members who have complete ownership of the management of their groups.

MarketPlace has been successful and financed its own growth to date. However, the market in the United States has become more difficult and competitive for small vendors like MarketPlace. Fashion trends have changed and have become more complicated to predict.

In November 2005, CRS awarded a Fair Trade Fund Development Grant to allow MarketPlace's artisans to work closely with two leading women's clothing designers to develop new products that meet the changing demands of the U.S. market. Through the development of new, more current products, MarketPlace India's artisans will be able to maintain their position in this increasingly competitive industry.

Learn more about MarketPlace India.

Learn more about what CRS does in India.