Perhaps you make a great zucchini

bread, but what you really need is a jar of salsa.

The answer to making a trade for what

you want could be found at the Flathead Food Swappers inaugural

food swap on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at

the Great Northern Brewery.

The Food Swappers is a group of local

food enthusiasts, many of whom have participated in home-based

trading events. Wednesday they open their swap to the public.

“We want to celebrate local things made

by local people,” said Kathie Lapcevic, the event’s organizer.

Lapcevic, of Columbia Falls, grows a

garden and does canning every year and says swapping can be a great

way to add to one’s pantry. She’s participated in smaller swaps and

was inspired by a larger-scale event that takes place in Portland,

Ore.

“I only grow certain things well,” she

said. “Other people grow other things well. I’m always interested

in trying new things. There might be a new jelly there that I want

to try while someone else will want my apple butter.”

Folks are invited to swap items such as

extra garden produce, wild-harvested or foraged foods, home-canned

items (high acid food only), home dehydrated, frozen or fermented

goods, home-grown eggs, meat, milk and cheese, and home-baked

items.

“We’re asking that interested swappers

not bring store-bought or commercial start-up goods,” Lapcevic

said. “We want to focus on the diversity of items and the people

who make them at home here in the Flathead Valley.”

Swappers set up tables with their items

beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the swapping begins at 7 p.m.

Participants are given “swap cards,” which they can place on tables

with a suggested offer. For example, a person might leave a card

offering to trade a dozen eggs for a pint jar of jelly. Then after

a set amount of time participants can look at the cards on their

table and decide if they agree to the swap. They then approach the

person that made the offer and make the trade.

“This way no one is forced to take

anything they don’t want,” Lapcevic said. “You take only what you

want to take.”

A sample table will be set up for

appropriate items so swappers may taste products before offering a

trade. A list of ingredients for items is also encouraged so folks

understand exactly what they are getting.

Although this is the first organized

event, the plan is to hold periodic swaps throughout the year.

Lapcevic is also hoping that the event will allow folks to meet and

possibly arrange swaps outside of the organized event.

For more information visit the group’s

Facebook page at www.facebook.com/flatheadswappers or e-mail

mtkatiecakes@yahoo.com.