Author: Linda Burgard
Planning Unit: Whitley County CES
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
Plan of Work: Effective Resource Management
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
According to the USDA, prices for food-at-home increased 11.3% in 2022 and is expected to increase an additional 8.6% in 2023. Due to these rising food costs, scarcity concerns, along with consumer concerns about food additives, food recalls, and the homesteading movement, there is a need to teach research-based food preservation methods. The Whitley County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Education conducted six hands on food preservation workshops during the growing season in 2022 reaching 41 men and women from Whitley County interested in preserving produce. During these workshops, the basics of home canning were taught in addition to the four traditional methods of food preservation including water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, and dehydrating. Much of the produce used was sourced from participants of the Whitley County Farmer’s Market. 100% of participants indicated in written surveys an increase in their knowledge of canning low and high acid foods, freezing and dehydrating foods, and practicing food safety protocols. 100% of participants also indicated an increased confidence in their ability to preserve foods. A random sampling of participants reported using proper food preservation procedures while canning over 612 pints through pressure canning and canning over 428 pints through water bath canning.
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