Become a Master Food Preserver

2025 UC Master Food Preserver Program

Who Can Apply

• Priority given to Fresno, Madera, and Merced county residents. 
• 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 

1. Watch the recording of an online informational meeting to learn more about the volunteer requirements as well as the selection and training process. Attendance or viewing of the information meeting is a mandatory prerequisite to apply.  Two live Q&A sessions are available to address any questions you have about the new volunteer program. 

• Watch the recorded Training Information Meeting
• Thursday, November 14, 2024: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
  Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting

1. These sessions use the same registration link: https://ucanr.edu/2025-mfp-training-mtg.
   
   
2. Complete and submit the online application by the end of Monday, November 25, 2024. Interviews will be during the early weeks of December.

What We'll Do

• Review applicants. Main criteria for acceptance: 1) prior community service, 2) experience teaching, either by giving presentations, writing, or in one-on-one situations, 3) experience/interest in home food preservation.
• Request a DOJ Clearance, including fingerprinting.
• Offer two online training tracks to choose from either Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 or Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 4:00. Once accepted, students will choose which track they will attend throughout the training program. (Students who miss a class may join the other track to make up a missed lesson.)  Hands-on lab classes will include students from both online tracks.
• Teach you how to preserve food successfully using scientifically researched home processes.
• Teach you how to educate our community about safe home food preservation.
• Provide you with plenty of fun volunteer and continuing education opportunities.

• What You’ll Do If Accepted

  • Pay the $200 course fee by December 15, 2024.
  • Attend the 11 classes in the track you select (Thursday evenings or Friday afternoons), as well as the in-person labs. Only one class may be missed and must be completed outside of normal class time with a mentor.
  • Complete the Live Scan fingerprinting process by February 14, 2025. Forms are sent with the acceptance notification.
  • Attend monthly program business meetings on your meeting dates/times.
  • Attend at least one public class hosted by a UC Master Food Preserver Program; either in person or online, by May 9, 2025, as part of your training program.
  • Complete 50 volunteer hours your first full program year, then 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours each year thereafter.
  • Pass an annual food safety/preservation reappointment quiz.
  Have fun!