You’re heard of swap meets. What about food swaps?
Desperate times in Greece, Spain and other parts of the world rekindled the bartering system. Greece once enjoyed high tourism, economic growth, early retirement and prosperity. Financial collapse of global markets hit the Greeks hard.
Many cannot buy food for their families as prices for food skyrocketed. The Greek government stepped in to allow grocery retailers to sell expired food at discounted prices.
Those who cannot afford to buy reverted to the ancient barter system for survival.
In Volus, Greece an organization named TEM exchanges goods and services such as, baby-sitting, computer assistance, and home-cooked meals to receive discounts at local businesses.
It is part alternative currency, part barter system, and part open-air market, whichever a person can do to get through these harsh economic times.
About 1,300 people have signed up to the informal bartering network and it’s still growing today.
Spaniards barter goods such as books or furniture in exchange for fresh produce at swap markets and these types of barter markets are spreading in every neighborhood throughout the country.
In Zimbabwe they bartered for doctor visits and medicines with chickens, goats, maize and even sacks of peanuts.
Food has become the most sought after commodity around many parts of the world. What was once taken for granted has now been stripped away in which only the rich can afford with ease.
Last February (2013) in Athens, Greece a brawl broke out among hundreds of Greeks during a free food giveaway to help the improvised. Not enough food for those who starve.
The world is in a world of hurt.
We barter to survive.