Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer It’s sometimes possible, but it’s not recommended. Can one reuse mayonnaise and other similar commercial product jars for home canning?  Some people have done so with some success.  But although it’s technically possible, it’s…

Ariel Patton, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer I often kick-off my summer by preserving strawberry jam, as the bright, ruby-red fruit overflows tiny green baskets throughout markets in the late spring and early summer. In California, strawberries are abundantly available and easy to…

Tim Long, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Commercial freeze-dried foods have been around for quite a while.Astronaut Ice cream for example: Image credit: Public Domain, 2025. For those who may be hikers or back packers, as I was while working with Boy Scouts, the commercial…

Sherida Phibbs, UC Master Food Preserver San Joaquin County Volunteer  Image credit: Sherida Phibbs, 2025.  "Being a Master Food Preserver isn’t just about jars and recipes — it's about resilience, community, and preserving traditions that feed both body and spirit." — Sherida Phibbs&nbsp…

Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Part 1: When is a tablespoon not a tablespoon?Common salt, sodium chloride (NaCl), is the most widely used condiment worldwide. It’s also the only rock we normally eat. (“Halite” is the geological term for rock salt.) Today, you can buy a…

Travis Alexander, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Coordinator In our funding agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, we committed to conducting periodic evaluations (6-month, 12-month, 18-month) of our monthly newsletter. We would greatly appreciate it if each of…

Melisa Spence, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer When I heard that we were highlighting strawberries this month, my mind immediately went to this cornmeal olive oil cake with a strawberry jam swirl from pastry chef Teresa Finney*. Finney suggests using any jam you like or have on hand,…

Penny Pearson, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program TraineeCounty of residence: Placer Image credit: Penny Pearson, 2025.  Some of my earliest—and most vivid—memories are tied to jars. Not just any jars, but the gleaming, jewel-toned jars that lined the walls of my grandparents' root cellar…

Bobbie Green, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Stanislaus  My name is Bobbie Green. I’m a fairly new Master Food Preserver, having completed the training in 2024. I'd been looking for an opportunity to get involved with the MFP program for several years, since…

Paige Weisskirch, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer  Home canning has an incredible story. What started as a way to feed hungry soldiers — facing the critical challenge of preventing food spoilage during long campaigns — has evolved into a practical skill and a beloved hobby for…