Central Sierra | Master Food Preservers | Become a UCCE Master Food Preserver

Program Benefits

• Contribute to your community. Every year UCCE Master Food Preserver volunteers contribute several thousand hours of educational service helping keep our community safe and healthy.
• Enjoy working together with a great group of food enthusiasts.
• Gain excellent knowledge about preserving fresh produce.

Volunteer Training

UCCE Master Food Preserver volunteers receive an intensive four-month training program in home food preservation. Instruction provides practical courses in the following topics

• Food safety
• Boiling water and atmospheric steam canning
• Pressure canning
• Canning jams & jellies
• Pickling and fermenting
• Dehydrating fruits and vegetables
• Freezing foods

Classes meet several times a month, with multiple hands-on labs to learn the food preservation techniques, with outside study in addition to class time. Quizzes, special projects and a final examination prepares the trainees to begin their first year of volunteer service.

2026 Master Food Preserver Training is Accepting Applicants! 

Before applying to become a UC Master Food Preserver volunteer, you must attend a program orientation. 

For El Dorado County, sign up for a program orientation with this BLUE link. El Dorado County Orientation

For ALL OTHER COUNTIES, please sign up for a program orientation with this YELLOW link.  All Other Counties Orientation