About Us

Mango Tree Imports is a locally owned and operated business featuring fairly traded art and gifts from around the world.  It is our mission to bring the world into your home while maintaining the ethical standards of Fair Trade.

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surrounding Mango Tree

Chris was a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana ’89-’91 and has traveled extensively. Kim met Chris in San Francisco while both were teaching public middle school, and together they have traveled and lived abroad. Both of their children were born while they were living in Paraguay. Four years in Paraguay allowed them the opportunity to explore more remote communities, become more aware of cultural identity and understand the unique typical arts of Paraguay. Wanting their children to share some connection to friends and their country of birth, while giving back to Paraguay, the country that had been so good to them for a few years, they began importing some of the most typical handicrafts.

With two young children to raise and knowledge of direct sources of incredibly unique art, jewelry, clothing and house wares, as well as being fluent in Spanish, Kim started a small language center and joined a local art cooperative. That was 2001 and they continued to expand and grow. In 2006, they chose to move to the next level of entrepreneurship. Their commitment to working directly with artists led them to Fair Trade and they knew that their expansion would have to be through close relationships with artisans and wholesalers active in the Fair Trade movement.   That led to the creation of Mango Tree Imports, a great shop with gifts and art from more than 55 developing-world countries and Las Mariposas Language Center on May 5, 2006.

Because of living and traveling in remote parts of the world, Kim and Chris understand the need for cultural sustainability, stability and income, in order for communities to exist. They understand that purchases made here have a direct effect on the producers in other countries.  Because of this, the emphasis on the artisans who made the unique products they sell, and their stories, are very important.

Upcoming Events

Ballston Spa's
First Friday Nights
What else is going on in Ballston Spa? First Friday.

Language Classes
for Adults and Children
Current offerings: 
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish & Italian.
Capital Region Language Center