2026 Statewide Volunteer Training Program

The following programs are participating in the 2026 statewide(online) new volunteer training program:

• Amador/Calaveras/Tuolumne
• Fresno/Madera/Merced
• Inyo/Mono
• Mariposa
• Online Delivery Program (only online classes, no in-person public events)
• Sacramento
• San Bernardino/Riverside
• San Diego
• San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara
• San Mateo/San Francisco
• Solano/Yolo

The following programs are participating in their own 2026 local (in-person) new volunteer training program:

• El Dorado
• Humboldt/Del Norte
• San Joaquin

Attend/watch the online informational meeting to learn about the volunteer requirements as well as the selection and training process. Three live Q&A sessions are available to address any additional questions you have about the new volunteer training program. 

• Thursday, September 18, 2025: 6:30–7:30 pm (required)
  Watch the recorded training information meeting here
• Friday, October 3, 2025: 12:00–1:00 pm 
  Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting
• Friday, October 17, 2025: 2:00–3:00 pm
  Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting
• Thursday, November 20, 2025: 6:30–7:30 pm
  Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting 

Applications are due by the end of Sunday, November 23, 2025. Interviews will be conducted during the early weeks of December with the local programs.

The goal of the training program is to educate volunteers in food safety and core food preservation techniques, so they can teach the general public how to safely preserve food, both short-term and long-term, at home. 

• The training program is a combination of pre-recorded videos, online quizzes, reading assignments, case studies completed with a mentor, live interactive classes, and in-person labs to practice the methods learned in class, taught locally at the offices of the participating programs. Students use Google Classroom to track assignments and class links.
• Applicants must be available to attend the online classes listed below.  Each local program will post its local in-person lab dates.
• Applicants must be comfortable using a computer and accessing the Internet. Quizzes and homework are online; class communication is via email. Accepted applicants must be fingerprinted for DOJ clearance in California.
• View our current syllabus draft for details about the program; the final version will be posted before the application deadline.
• The interactive live classes are offered twice per topic. Applicants will sign up for either the Thursday evening track (6:30-8:30 pm) or the Friday afternoon track (2:00-4:00 pm).