2025 Training Info

2025 Application

Who Can Apply

• Priority given to San Bernardino/Riverside county residents. If space allows, neighboring county residents may be accepted.
• 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. Attend online informational meeting or listen to recording to learn more about the volunteer requirements as well as the selection and training process. Session lasts one hour. Attendance or viewing of the information meeting is a mandatory pre-requisite to apply. 

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 $300 course fee by January 3, 2025.
• Attend the class 6:30-8:30 Thurs or 2:00 – 4:00 pm Friday. Attend all in-person labs. Only one class may be missed and must be completed outside of normal class time with program coordinator.
• Complete the Live Scan fingerprinting process by February 24, 2025. Instructions will be sent upon acceptance to the training program.
• 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!