2023 Fresh Vegetables with a different look

Fresh Salsa for the win! Culinary 

The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, consumption of total fruit and total vegetables are expected to grow roughly 4% respectively in the next 3 years. With the increase on the rise of consuming vegetables the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent provides fresh vegetables classes at the local high school to juniors and seniors in Rowan County. 

A popular food item such as salsa was picked to demonstrate how quick and easy it be used to add as a side dish and served fresh with different food items such as omelets, chips or burgers.  Students learn basic knife and cutting skills to prepare fresh salsa. Then a demonstration was done with the extra salsa to preserve it for later. Teaching the quick and easy water bath method taught the students how to preserve the vegetables but also to reduce any waste they would have with extra fresh food at home.

2 months later a male student with his mother stopped me at shooting sports and informed me that my salsa class taught him knife skills and how to try new things.  His mother explained that he had made the dish for his family several times since the class with great results. 

71 students in two classes practice skills and learned from this simple demo.

95% enjoyed it and encouraged others to try the salsa.

100% of the students agreed that it is better to preserve and not waste food.

5% of the students had never tried fresh salsa.

75% of the students stated that they would like to make fresh salsa for their friends and family.