Master Food Preservers serve to extend Extension’s education programs in food preservation to adults and youth. The Master Food Preserver serves as a volunteer and resource in the community to provide the public with research-based information from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and USDA.
Any Maine resident 21 years or older is eligible to take the Master Food Preserver course offered annually. To become a Master Food Preserver, accepted applicants must meet the following qualifications:
- Attend the 10-part, 35-hour Master Food Preserver course including hands-on kitchen lab sessions.
- Complete lab quizzes and pass the final written exam.
- Complete at least 20 hours of volunteer service as a Master Food Preserver.
- Complete quarterly reports on the number of public contacts made.
Cost for training is on a sliding scale based on household income; full or partial scholarships are available. Applications for Master Food Preserver Class of 2013 will be available April 2013; application deadline is May 3, 2013. Please email Lois Elwell at lois.elwell@maine.edu to request an application or available online.
For more information: http://umaine.edu/food-health/food-preservation/master-food-preservers/
The UMaine Cooperative Extension also offers a series of hands-on workshops covering the basics of canning and freezing, including how to preserve pickles, jam, and vegetables: http://umaine.edu/food-health/food-preservation/hands-on-workshops/
Note: For those outside of Maine, request the program at your local Cooperative Extension — programs are based on show of demand!