2025 Youth learn to make/preserve Apple Butter

The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, consumption of total fruit are expected to grow roughly 4% respectively in the next 5 years. With the increase on the rise of consuming fruits the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent provides food preservation classes at the local high school to freshman, sophomore, juniors and seniors in Rowan County. 

A popular food item such apple butter was picked to demonstrate how quick and easy it is to can fruit. Culinary, Foods and Agricultural students learn basic knife, peeling and cutting skills to prepare fresh apples into apple butter. Then a demonstration was done with the extra apple butter to preserve it.  Teaching quick and easy water bath method taught the students how to preserve the fruit but also to reduce any waste they would have with extra fresh food at home.

110 students in five classes practiced skills and learned from this simple demo.

100% enjoyed and encouraged others to try the apple butter.

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

90% of the students had never tried apple butter.

80% of the students stated that they would like to preserve food in the future.