Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County (CCE-Monroe) will host their first annual Home Food Preservation Day on Saturday, May 1, at 2449 St. Paul Boulevard, one-quarter mile north of the Seneca Park Zoo entrance. This outdoor event will feature a canning supply sale, pressure gauge testing, and on-hand canning experts. The CCE-Monroe team will also be on-site to provide U-Pick information, gardening tips, healthy recipes, and maybe even some thimbleberry cuttings. This is a one-day-only event, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Plan ahead for the canning season
The Rochester community has been experiencing a shortage of canning jars and pectin since last summer. CCE-Monroe took action during the winter to secure supplies and will be offering for sale: Ball canning jars (4 oz., 8 oz., pint), Sure-Jell regular pectin, Sure-Jell low sugar pectin, Ball Blue Books, Home Preservation books with recipes and techniques, and water-bath canners. 4-H Youth Development will be on hand with a free Mother’s Day gift gardening activity.
Pressure canner checks and gauge testing
Pressure canners and gauges should be checked each year to ensure low-acid vegetables and foods are being home-preserved safely. Gauge testing will be offered at no charge during Home Food Preservation Day.
Ask the experts
Certified Master Food Preservers will be on-hand to answer questions about the seven methods of home food preservation the community uses: canning, pickling/fermenting, dehydrating, smoking/curing, freezing, cold storage, and refrigeration. Bring questions or just come to talk with others who also enjoy preserving food. Specialists from each of CCE-Monroe’s program areas – Nutrition, Agriculture, Horticulture, Master Gardeners, and 4-H Youth Development – will be providing resources, information, and demonstrations to support home gardening endeavors.
Pick up canning tips and tricks
There will be free hand-outs providing sanctioned websites for safe canning reference and web address links to video tutorials.
CCE-Monroe looks forward to helping the community with its canning and gardening needs during this event on Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Provided information
