Food swap event expands at Shadbolt

A local food movement that got off the ground earlier this year is continuing to grow and thrive in the city.

The Burnaby Food Swap recently announced the date of its third event, slated for July 5, with a new location that will allow for more participants.

The swap will be held at Shadbolt Centre, and as many as 40 "swappers" will be able to take part.

The first swap was featured by the Burnaby NOW in February, with North Burnaby resident Roberta LaQuaglia organizing the inaugural event.

An avid canner and mom-of-two, LaQuaglia told the NOW that the food swap concept isn't new - just new to Burnaby.

Swaps are an increasingly popular event throughout North America as more and more people become interested in local food and food preserving.

Participants bring home-made or homegrown food to trade, from canned goods to fresh herbs, homemade bread or fresh honey.

Participants must preregister and are expected to adhere to an honour code of using safe food standards in their kitchens and gardens for swap items. At the swap, participants put out their items on display, like a silent auction, and people can mingle while checking out the goods and writing down "swap" offers on attached cards.

At the end of the browsing stage, participants go back to their own items to see what kind of offers have been made and which one they'd like to follow through on.

The first and second swaps in Burnaby saw products as diverse as homegrown garlic and freshly made macarons.

To find out more about the upcoming July swap and to register, see july foodswap.eventbrite. com. The swap is also on Facebook at www.face book.com/foodswap.bby.