The trend toward local foods and concern over where our food comes from, especially since the pandemic, has led to a resurgence of interest in home food preservation. Cornell Cooperative Extension has a long history of being a trusted and reliable source of information and education on this topic, and we strive to keep it that way. The goal of the Master Food Preserver workshop is to train CCE staff and volunteers so they have the knowledge and confidence to teach home food preservation to others.
The CCE Master Food Preserver program is taught by educators Diane Whitten, CCE Saratoga County and Karen Mort, CCE Albany County. The three-day Master Food Preserver workshop covers all the methods of home food preservation including: the scientific basis of food preservation, boiling water and pressure canning procedures, pickling procedures including fermentation and quick pickling, making gelled products, freezing and dehydration principles, plus other related preservation information.
Hosts are responsible for the cost of educational materials (copies of handbook, food, canning jars, etc.), hotel for the instructors, lunch for participants and a fee of $2500 paid to CCE Saratoga County. The host sets the price for attendance.
Maximum participants is 21. Participants may be staff, potential/current volunteers, or members of the public, they can be from one or more counties – the host can decide the purpose and the audience. If you are interested in hosting a Master Food Preserver training in your county, contact Diane Whitten for more information at dwhitten@cornell.edu.
The following weeks are available for these three day workshops. Dates should be selected at least two months prior to the workshop to allow your association ample marketing time.
2024 Master Food Preserver Program Dates
April 30 – May 2 CCE Cattaraugus County
May 14-16 OPEN
May 29-31 OPEN
June 11-13 CCE Seneca County (tentative)
More information about the Master Food Preserver Program can be found here: https://ccesaratoga.org/nutrition-food/master-food-preserver
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