Only 8.0% of adults in Kentucky are meeting the daily fruit intake recommendation and only 6.3% of adults in Kentucky are meeting the daily vegetable intake recommendations according to a report from the CDC in 2018.

Several studies have found that fruit and vegetable consumption increase among gardeners during the harvest season compared to non-gardeners. Gardening can have a positive impact financially as well as nutritionally.

According to a 2023 study published in the Public Health Nutrition in December 2023, home food preservation may have a positive impact on the food security and improve the consumption of fruit and vegetables among gardeners (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10830356/). However, there are several barriers to home food preservation including lack of confidence, lack of experience, and concern of loss of time and money if unsuccessful at canning.

In response to community requests for food preservation classes as well as attempting to reduce the barriers to home food preservation among McCreary County residents, the McCreary County Extension offered a 2 day food preservation workshop in March 2024 to provide education and hands-on experience in water bath canning, pressure canning, dehydrating, as well as canning jams and jellies. 10 participants attended and learned the importance of using proper, research-based techniques and recipes when preserving foods. All participants were able to demonstrate the techniques and skills needed to pressure can, water bath can, and dehydrate foods. Participants also made homemade jelly and processed it. 100% of participants stated an increase in knowledge and confidence after attending the class. Within the 3 weeks since the class, 4 participants have attended other extension programs and stated they have used the skills acquired during the workshop to preserve foods at home. 2 participants also stated intentions to purchase canning equipment based on the recommendations for safe canning equipment gained during the workshop.