2026 Master Food Preserver Training Program
What We Do
Individuals passionate about increasing community knowledge in home food preservation can apply and complete a training course to become UC Master Food Preserver volunteers. Interested applicants must be willing to teach the knowledge and skills they learn to educate their communities. Prior knowledge of food preservation is not required; willingness to teach others is.
Join Our Mission
There are 18 in-person programs that cover 37 counties throughout California. If you live in a county without a local Master Food Preserver Program, we have an online delivery program whose volunteers teach all their classes via Zoom and complete all their volunteer hours through online activities.
Master Food Preserver Training & Beyond
Once accepted into a UC Master Food Preserver program, applicants will receive more than 50 hours of training over the course of 16 weeks from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Training topics include:
- Food safety
- Equipment
- Boiling water and pressure canning
- Canning jams and jellies
- High acid foods
- Low acid foods
- Pickling
- Dehydration
- Freezing and refrigeration
- Teaching and program implementation
Once a volunteer has completed the Master Food Preserver training, they are required to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours in the first year. Each year thereafter, Master Food Preservers are required to complete a minimum of 25 hours of volunteer service and 12 hours of continuing education.