Preserve Your Summer Harvest
By Rosemary Orr UCCE Master Food Preserver
June in San Luis Obispo County is a wonderful time of the year to start preserving our summer's bounty of fruit. You are invited to join UC Master Food Preservers for their “Introduction to Canning” class. Discover how to preserve a simple fruit puree while learning the basic principles of food preservation and canning. In San Luis Obispo, UC Master Food Preservers have received extensive training in food safety and food preservation and now serve as UC Cooperative Extension volunteers who teach these topics to the community. The information in this class will prepare you for upcoming classes on Fermentation, August 25 and Advanced Canning, September 22.
The class will be held on Saturday, June 23 from 10am to 12pm at 2156 Sierra Way in San Luis Obispo. In this class, the boiling water bath canning method will be the primary topic. A variety of basic canning principles will be discussed including: the difference between low acid and high acid foods, boiling water vs. pressure canning, steam canning, canning supplies, recommended canning books, tested recipes, and the effects of altitude on canning. Safe food handling and canning don'ts (using your grandmother's canning recipe, paraffin wax, upside down jars, etc.) will also be topics for conversation. During the class, the UC Master Food Preservers will show you how to preserve a seasonal fruit puree using a boiling water canner. This class is designed for the beginning canner or for someone who has not canned for several years. There will be a $10.00 class fee to cover supplies.
If you can't make it to the class and have a food safety/preservation question, UCCE Master Food Preservers have a helpline at (805) 781-1429 every Wednesday from 1:00-3:00pm. By calling the helpline, you can also find out about upcoming food preservation classes, safe canning recipes, how to become a Certified Master Food Preserver, make an appointment to get your pressure canner gauge tested, and discover how you too can teach research-based practices of safe home food preservation to the residents of our community.
Class registration: http://ucanr.edu/introtocanning2018