Become a UC Master Food Preserver

Examples of community outreach from UC Master Food Preservers:
- Classes and workshops
- Hands-on demonstrations
- County fairs
- Websites and blogs
- Print and digital media
How UC Master Food Preservers make a difference:
- Teach safe and food preservation methods in local communities
- Share knowledge about preserving fresh and healthy produce
- Prevent botulism in home canning
- Promote research-based methods of food handling and food preparation
Become a UC Master Food Preserver
Thank you for your interest in becoming a UC Master Food Preserver Volunteer. Note: This is a request for more information, NOT an application.
If you live in a California county with an existing UC Master Food Preserver Program, you will receive instructions on how to contact your local program coordinator. If you live in a county without a UC Master Food Preserver Program, you will receive information about the nearest program and resources to learn more about food preservation online.
.
Master Food Preserver Training Courses
Once accepted into the UC Master Food Preserver program from a local UCCE county office, applicants will receive more than 50 hours of training over the course of 16 weeks from University of California division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Training topics include:
- Food safety
- Equipment
- Boiling water and pressure canning
- Canning jams and jellies
- High acid foods
- Low acid foods
- Pickling
- Dehydration
- Freezing and refrigeration
- Teaching and program implementation
In exchange for education and certification, new UC Master Food Preservers are required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours in the first year and 25 hours each year subsequently. UC Master Food Preservers must complete a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education per year, starting their second year.