Become a Master Food Preserver This Spring

The ability to not only teach but also live by safe home food preservation methods is essential to a healthy lifestyle. The University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) program is for those individuals who are in hopes of increasing the overall knowledge of home food preservation methods and have the willingness to share their skills through community outreach. “The Master Food Preserver (MFP) program is a public service community outreach providing up-to-date information on food safety and preservation,” according UCCE’s website. “A Master Food Preserver is a volunteer who is formally educated in food preservation/food safety and is certified by a university cooperative extension. Volunteers are qualified to teach food preservation and food safety in addition to disseminating that information via lectures, talks and other county events.” The opportunity to become a Master Food Preserver is here. The UCCE San Bernardino County Master Food Preserver (MFP) program is offering a spring class to the public that will run from Jan. 25, 2016 until April 18, 2016. The class will meet in the Demonstration Kitchen located inside the San Bernardino County General Services Agency building every Monday night at 6 p.m. and the class will be in session until 9:30 p.m. The building is located at 777 East Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino. The class is $156, which already includes the insurance fee. Aside from that, this hands-on class will provide thorough training of food preservation practices that you could do within your own home, including: food safety, making jam and jellies, canning fruit, meats and vegetables, pickling, fermenting, dehydrating/drying, and freezing. The class will also include assessments like written quizzes and demonstrations. During this session, you are only allowed to have one absence and you must make it up. However, it is essential that you attend the very first class since it covers Food Safety. If for some reason you cannot make the first class, you cannot continue with the course. In order to apply for the Master Food Preserver Volunteer Training Program, visit http://ucanr.edu/sites/sbmfp/Become_a_Master_Food_Preserver/, in order to fill out the application. After printing and filling out the application form, it must be mailed to 777 East Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino, 92415-0730. Applications should be received no later than Oct. 15, 2015. Help make a difference by teaching, promoting, and sharing useful knowledge about preserving methods, the preservation of fresh produce throughout local communities, and more. If becoming a Master Food Preserver is something you are interested in, don't wait to send in your applications because spaces are limited. The first 16 qualified applicants will be chosen for the course. For any further information regarding the class, please contact Pat Malone at 951-733-0821.