Preserving Stories told one Jar at a time
Jam Exchange is a celebration of fruit, preserving and the stories held inside a jar. It is built around a simple idea — Making Jam the Hero.
This unique marketplace is on Monday 5 October 2026 in Bowral from 9am until 2pm.
The Jam Exchange unfolds as a curated, abundant marketplace of jars. Imagine long tables are lined with preserves. Handwritten labels, simple cards and producer notes inviting guests to browse, read and talk. Guests sample jams and purchase jars or vote for their favourites in the competition category. Makers swap their creations with preservers standing beside their work. Growers are acknowledged alongside makers. Home cooks share space with professionals. Taste anchors the experience. Bread is toasted; butter melts and jam is spooned. The DJ jams!
The Jam Exchange is not about perfection or polish. It is about care, seasonality, and the quiet craft of capturing a moment in the growing year. Preserving devotees understand the pleasure of the process and joy when it’s time to share the creation.
There are two ways to be part of this unique event:
JAM MARKETS or JAM SWAP
JAM MARKETS
Entry to the ‘marketplace’ is free for the public and will also include a coffee stop as well as jam inspired food to buy like Jam Donuts, Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches or Toast with Jam. Come along and stock up the pantry with your favourite spread, we will have jam stalls from all over NSW on hand to offer you a vast array of choices in a jar.
A ‘must visit’ Jam lover’s event, perfect for that long weekend brunch and a satellite event at Horizontal Festival.
JAM SWAP
Entry fee $30 per jam maker plus you bring 6 jars of jam. Jars must be 250-300ml in size based on weight. Entry closes on 31 Aug 2026. We want to bring together NSW growers, preservers, home cooks, chefs and artisans who share a love of jam making and transform seasonal fruit into something that lasts.
It’s simple – participants submit 6 jars of jam made from NSW fruit and leave with 6 jars of other people’s jam. Some will be family recipes passed down through generations; others will explore new flavour combinations, varieties, and techniques. Every jar is accompanied by a short story: where the fruit came from, who made the jam, and why this jar exists as well as an ingredient list.
JAM SWAP COMPETITION
Entrants to the SWAP element of this event can also enter The Jam Exchange Competition lovingly judged by Lyndey Milan OAM, Hon Carol Berry (Member for Whitlam) and Carol Brown (Mrs Oldbucks Berrima)– entry will require a jar of your jam per category to be tasted in addition to your 6 SWAP jam jars. These must be sent to us by Friday 18 September. Details will emailed to you once you purchase your SWAP tickets.
The Judge’s decision is final. We will be looking for 3 categories, and our judges will be blind tasting the top 10 entrants on the day.
Best in Show – taste, creativity, and flavour (Judges choice)
Best Jam Story – the who, why and where (Judges choice)
Peoples Choice Jam (Registered guests at event)
Who is choosing the Top 10 Finalists? Matt Moran will be shortlisting our entries to decide the top 10 for our judging panel via our social media channels on Friday 2 October.
DO YOU SELL JAM?
Get in touch hello@experiencenature.com.au if you want to book a stall at the Jam Markets