I’ve been invited to all kinds of friendly exchanges over the years, from Christmas cookie exchanges to vegetable seed swaps. But I’d never heard about food swaps until I read Emily Paster’s new book.

A food swap is simply “a gathering of friends and food lovers to exchange their homemade goods,” she writes in Food Swap: Specialty recipes for bartering, sharing & giving (Storey, 2016). It’s a chance to meet, mingle, chat and swap your fermented peppers for someone else’s banana bread.

“I managed to trade a few jars of jam and pickles for delicious cookies, bread and a drinking syrup – none of which I would have made on my own,” she writes.

A food swap follows in the long tradition of neighbors trading, bartering and exchanging their handmade or home-made goods. In Paster’s book she takes the simple tradition to the next level.

The food swap movement is now in full swing and swaps are popping up from coast to coast. Homemade food enthusiasts have fallen in love with the idea of getting together to swap, share and enjoy the entire process. No money changes hands at a swap.

As co-founder of Chicago Food Swap, her exchanges have become a business. But they can still be simple affairs staged at home, too.

Food Swap provides all the details for organizing a food swap in your neighborhood or community. She gives creative ideas for finding a location and publicizing the event. Paster also includes a section on legal considerations, what to bring to a swap and how to package it. Her helpful tips for savvy swapping will help beginners become experts in no time.

An additional benefit of a food swap, Paster says, is it leads to “making you a better cook.”

The book includes 80 delicious recipes for swapping and gift-giving all illustrated with mouth-watering images. She includes many more recipes on her West of the Loop website, too.

Even if you decide a food swap isn’t for you, you’ll appreciate the Food Swap recipes for Salted Caramel sauce and Vanilla Rum caramels. Vegetable gardeners will especially enjoy her recipes for Carrot soup, Turnip Greens pesto, Roasted Tomato ketchup, Garlicky dill beans and Spicy Green Tomato salsa.

One of the most thoughtful additions to the book are the pop-out gift tags to attach to your own homemade or home-grown goodies for gifting.

Food Swap is a modern take for continuing the fine tradition of sharing, trading and enjoying the fruits — jars, breads and sauces — of our labors.

(Storey Publishing provided a free copy of Food Swap for the purpose of this review.)

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon