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 5 years. With the increase on the rise of consuming vegetables the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent provides food preservation 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 is to can vegetables. Students learn basic knife and cutting skills to prepare the fresh salsa. Then a demonstration was done with the extra salsa to preserve it. 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.

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

95% enjoyed and encourage others to try the salsa.

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

15% of the students had never tried fresh salsa.

85% of the students stated that they would like to preserve food in the future.