FOOD SWAP

[Gmaine]

Anyone been to a "Food Swap" yet?

[PotatoHouse]

My wife was part of a cookie swap at work (guess who was responsible for baking the cookies...) They were told to put X number of cookies in each baggie and bring X number of baggies (one baggie per participant) and the baggies were split up and doled out.

[HillJ]

I run two food swaps; one with friends & neighbors and one with colleagues.
It's a one for one swap and we jar with that in mind. A swap list is emailed out well in advance of the event and the sample table contains one jar of each item being offered (along with a few other goodies to round out the fun meal). The day ends with us leaving with our swaps and any of our own leftovers not taken....and recipes!

Jars last time included pickled vegetables, jams and jellies, curds, oils, vinegars, cocktail mixers, cooked fruit, spreads and spice mixes.

[gingershelley]

That is such a good idea! I am a canner, so this would be right up my alley. I will have to look around for a local one, and report back.

[mvi]

I am going to my first Food Swap in Boston in about two weeks so I thought I'd bump this up to see if anyone has any new insights. I think I know what I am bringing (big bags of my granola and some of my vegan sweets) but am still not clear on how the process works. If anyone has been to one, I'd love to hear about it- what to expect, what to bring, etc.

[sandiasingh]

How did the Boston Food Swap go?

[mvi]

Sadly, I was unable to go but am going to the next one and will report in. Have you been?

[sandiasingh]

No. Don't know if we have one here in the Sanya Fe area but will check it out.

[hungryjoanne]

No, but I'm planning on hosting a soup swap this winter
http://soupswap.com/how-to/
looking forward to hearing about any other experiences.

[CindyJ]

So in other words, everyone would bring X-number of pint/quart containers of soup to the event, and leave with that number of containers that others have brought?

[CindyJ]

What, exactly, is a food swap?

[lcool]

me to

and how is it kept ?equitable? if that'a the right word

[Gmaine]

The way I'm understanding it is that I show up at a food swap with 1 dozen jars of say Lemon Curd whic I have made. I put everything out on a table plus a open jar so people can have a sample before offering what ever they have to swap. Not sure what happens if I'm not interested in what they brought to trade.
People bring anything from home grown produce, salsas, pies, cookies, stews, etc. etc.

[CindyJ]

And the exchanges are 1-for-1?

[Gmaine]

Not sure what the "exchange rate" is, good question. Maybe we'll hear from someone who's been to one.
Missed one last Saturday and I'm going to be out of town for the one next month so it looks like it might be awhile before I get to one to see how it works.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

When I was little, my parents used to be part of a Cookie Swap. I remember enjoying the cookies.

[Gmaine]

Cookie swaps have been around a long time, usually you'll find them taking place during the christmas holidays. Love a good cookie swap!

[chefathome]

No but I would love to! Have you?

[Gmaine]

Haven't been to one yet, never even heard of a "Food Swap" until a few days ago :) Might check one out this coming Saturday.

[chefathome]

I would love to hear all about it. Can you report back, please? Lots of delicious details!