Maria Giovanni, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer

County of residence: Previously Butte, now lives out of state (CO)

Image credit: Maria Giovanni, 2025

Do you ever think about the “why” and “how” of food?  I joined the UC MFP Online program from a different perspective than most of our amazing volunteers.  Like many MFPs, I learned to can food when I was young and was an active 4-H member, which turned into my almost 50-year career in food science. Leaving my rural hometown for the “big city” of Davis, CA, I was fortunate to learn from amazing professors who provided a strong foundation in food science, which includes food preservation. I have worked for Cooperative Extension as a county Advisor in both Colorado and California and have also assisted Specialists with their research. 

I wanted to start a Master Food Preserver (MFP) program in my home community, but we just didn’t have enough time, county financial support, or wiling volunteer staffing to begin an in-person program. The Online MFP Program has been a great resource to counties in California and beyond that don’t have an active in-person MFP program. Many of these parts of California are in rural areas that have an abundance of produce, both commercially and from home gardens, so the online program fills an important gap. The collaboration and friendship I have experienced as an online MFP are wonderful. I am glad to contribute from my education and experience working for a wide variety of food companies and in community education.

The Online Delivery Program has allowed UCCE to expand both within and beyond California, so if you are interested in joining our efforts, please contact us. I have recently moved to Colorado but retained my association with the Online Delivery program of the UC Master Food preservers. With the challenges of preserving food at high altitude, I look forward to continuing with the on-line program, teaching people safe food preservation methods so they have more food for their families while decreasing food waste.