The Swan Hill Library’s Fresh Food Swap is celebrating its first anniversary, with the community invited to join in the celebrations on Saturday, 17 October.
Swan Hill Rural City Council Libraries Manager, Camille Cullinan said the first year of the Fresh Food Swap had demonstrated the value of bringing people together to share, connect and reduce waste.
“It’s wonderful to be celebrating the first anniversary of the Fresh Food Swap and to see how much it has grown over the past year,” Ms Cullinan said.
“The swaps are about so much more than exchanging food. They provide an opportunity for people to meet, share what they have, learn from one another and make sure good food doesn’t go to waste.
“We’d love to see the community come along to help us celebrate this milestone, whether you’re a regular swapper or you’ve never been before.”
The Swan Hill and Robinvale Fresh Food Swaps are community gatherings where people can trade excess homegrown or homemade goods.
Participants can bring surplus backyard fruit and vegetables, eggs, seeds, homemade bread, preserves and other produce, and take what they can use. It is a simple and sustainable way to reduce food waste while building community connections, the Council said in a statement.
The Initiative was developed in partnership between the Swan Hill Regional Library and Swan Hill District Health, Health Promotion.
In its first year, the Fresh Food Swaps across Swan Hill and Robinvale have attracted 230 participants, with a total of:
- 166kg of fresh fruit and vegetables swapped, including 84kg of fruit and 80kg of vegetables;
- 31 jars of preserves swapped;
- 1,300 eggs swapped.
Ms Cullinan said the success of the swaps would not be possible without the support of the community and dedicated volunteers.
“We are incredibly grateful to our wonderful volunteers who give their time and energy to help make each Fresh Food Swap happen,” Ms Cullinan said.
“We’d also like to thank everyone who has brought along their excess produce and taken part over the past year. Every contribution, big or small, has helped make the swaps such a positive community initiative.”
Community members are invited to bring along their excess produce to share and swap at the anniversary event.
Event details:
Fresh Food Swap First Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, 17 October
10am–12pm
Swan Hill Library.
