The UC Master Food Preserver Program of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties is open to individuals looking to increase community knowledge in home food preservation methods. Applicants for the UC Master Food Preserver Program must be willing to share knowledge and skills learned from certification training through local community outreach. Prior food preservation knowledge is not a requirement; willingness to teach others is.
Examples of community outreach from UC Master Food Preservers:
- Classes and workshops
- Hands-on demonstrations
- County fairs
- Websites and blogs
- Print and digital media
How UC Master Food Preservers make a difference:
- Teach safe and food preservation methods in local communities
- Share knowledge about preserving fresh and healthy produce
- Prevent botulism in home canning
- Promote research-based methods of food handling and food preparation
Volunteer Training:
UC Master Food Preserver volunteers receive an intensive 50-hour training program in home food preservation. Instruction provides practical courses in the following topics:
- Food safety
- Boiling water and atmospheric steam canning
- Pressure canning
- Canning jams & jellies
- Pickling and fermenting
- Dehydrating fruits and vegetables
- Freezing foods
Classes meet several times a month, with multiple hands-on labs to learn the food preservation techniques, with outside study in addition to class time. Quizzes, special projects and a final examination prepares the trainees to begin their first year of volunteer service.
Application Process
Who Can Apply
Priority given to San Mateo and San Francisco County residents. Residents of other counties will be considered only with the approval of the coordinator and County Director. Applicants must be comfortable using a computer and accessing the internet. Class lessons, quizzes and homework are online using Google Classroom; class communication is via email.
How to Apply
Attend an online informational meeting to learn about the volunteer requirements as well as the selection and training process. Attendance or viewing the recording of the information meeting is a mandatory prerequisite to apply. Three live Q&A sessions are available to address any questions you have about the new volunteer training program.
For registration, please check back later, as it opens in September this year.
If you have residence in another county, please see the Find a UC Master Food Preserver Program website to find your nearest program.
Questions? Send us an email: smsfpreservers@ucanr.edu
The University of California Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR) is an equal opportunity provider.
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