Tomato Workshop
By Leonard Cicerello UCCE Master Gardener
What can I do with all the tomatoes that I have coming besides make salads? Heather, Los Osos
The UCCE Master Food Preserver (MFP) Program of San Luis Obispo County will be offering a workshop on how to preserve whole tomatoes by using a water bath canner to help demonstrate a variety of ways to use your homegrown tomatoes. Have you ever made herbed tomato juice? If not, they will show you how. For those of you who buy jars of spaghetti sauce, you may be confident enough to make your own after attending this workshop.
The MFP program is part of the UCCE and extends UC research-based information regarding home food safety and preservation to the public. The upcoming workshop will be held in the UCCE auditorium at 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo on Saturday, June 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The MFP program also conducts classes on topics such as pickling, drying, freezing, fermenting, and canning fruits and vegetables. We often regret not using or giving away all of the fruits and vegetables that we have grown. It's gratifying to take the time to learn how to pickle, freeze, dry, or can our bounty. Many of us have wonderful memories of delicious foods that we enjoyed as children that our parents and/or grandparents pickled, canned, etc. By preserving seasonal tomatoes, we can enjoy the fresh taste of summer's tomatoes throughout the year and take great pleasure in sharing food or drink that you have grown or made with appreciative friends.
If you wish to attend the workshop, registration is required and there is a $5.00 materials fee. Please bring exact change or a check. Call Christine Nelson at 805-781-5944 to register.
Mark your calendars for the UCCE MFP's upcoming classes:
Saturday, July 25: What is fermentation?
Saturday, August 22: Pressure canning your summer bounty!