• Priority given to Sonoma County residents. 
• Applicants must be comfortable using a computer and accessing the internet. Class will be hybrid - Zoom lectures and in-person labs. Quizzes and homework are online; class communication is via email.

What We'll Do

• Review applications. The main criteria for acceptance is: 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 that approved applicants complete and pass a Dept. of Justice (DOJ) / Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) clearance, including fingerprinting.
• Teach you how to preserve food safely and 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 course fee of $250 ($130 to UCCE + $120 to Sonoma County MFP). Partial scholarships are available.
• Attend all online classes and hands-on labs. Only one class may be missed and must be completed outside of normal class time with a mentor.
• Complete the (DOJ / FBI) Live Scan fingerprinting process. See the Volunteer Fingerprinting Procedure for instructions.  The fingerprinting form can be downloaded and printed after filling out the "Applicant Information" section. Please take 3 copies when going to get fingerprinted.
• Attend UC Master Food Preserver Program of Sonoma County (MFP) business meetings (date/time TBD). At this time most meetings are online via Zoom and some are in-person.
• Complete 50 volunteer hours your first full program year, and 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours each year thereafter.
• Pass an annual food safety reappointment quiz.
• Have fun!

Class Locations / Times

• Lecture classes will be on Zoom on Fridays. All in-person classes will be at either the UC Cooperative Extension office (133 Aviation Blvd., Suite 109, Santa Rosa, CA 95403) or the Youth Ag & Leadership Fdn. of Sonoma County (6445 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park, CA 94928).
• In-person labs are on Saturdays, time to be determined.

COVID-19

• The UC Master Food Preserver Program of Sonoma County complies with the COVID-19 policies and procedures of the County of Sonoma and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. UC ANR - Guidance for Statewide Volunteer Programs

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