UCCE Master Food Preservers of Sacramento County
University of California
UCCE Master Food Preservers of Sacramento County

2025 UCCE Master Food Preserver Training

Who Can Apply

  • Priority given to Sacramento county residents. If space allows, neighboring county residents may be accepted.

  • Applicants must be comfortable using a computer and accessing the internet. Class lessons, quizzes and homework are online using Google Classroom; class communication is via email.

Interviews will begin December 5.

What We’ll Do

  • Review applicants. Main criteria for acceptance: 1) prior community service, 2) experience teaching, either by giving presentations, writing, or in one-on-one situations, 3) experience/interest in home food preservation.

  • Request a DOJ Clearance, including fingerprinting.

  • Teach you how to preserve food successfully using scientifically researched home processes.

  • Teach you how to educate our community about safe home food preservation.

  • Provide you with plenty of fun volunteer and continuing education opportunities.

What You’ll Do If Accepted

  • Pay the $350.00 course fee by December 15, 2024.

  • Choose a track and attend the Zoom classes as well as the in-person labs. The tracks for Zoom classes are Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 PM or Fridays 2-4 PM.  Labs are held in person on Saturdays or Sundays.  See the dates for Zoom classes and in person labs in the list on the right. Only one class may be missed and must be completed outside of normal class time with a mentor.

  • Complete the Live Scan fingerprinting process.

  • Attend at least one public class hosted by a UC Master Food Preserver Program; either in person or online, by date TBD, as part of your training program.  See our calendar for these classes.

  • Attend monthly program business meetings on the second Thursday of the month via Zoom at 6:30 PM as often as possible. 

  • Complete 50 volunteer hours your first full program year, then 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours each year thereafter.

  • Pass an annual food safety reappointment quiz.

  • Have fun!

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Preserve today,
relish tomorrow!

Training details

Lectures and demos:
Online via Zoom.

In-person hands-on labs:
4145 Branch Center Road
Sacramento, CA 95827

Training Fee: $350

Course Schedule - At a Glance (PDF)

Important dates

2024  
Oct 4, 25, Nov 14 Training info meetings
Oct 4 Application available
Nov 25 Applications due
Dec 5 Interviews begin
Dec 15 Payment due
2025 Blue dates below indicate in-person events
Jan 15, 7p Pre-class: Zoom prep (optional)
Jan 16/17 Training Orientation
Jan 23/24 Food Safety
Jan 26 Orientation/ Knife Skills - 1-4:30 PM
Jan 30/31 Cold Storage, Be an MFP #1
Feb 2 Cold Storage Lab - 1-4:30 PM
TBD Fingerprint forms due
Feb 13/14 High Acid Canning
Feb 15 High Acid Canning Lab - 10 AM-4:30 PM
Feb 27/28 Pickling, Fermenting
Mar 1 Pickling, Fermenting Lab - 10 AM-4:30 PM
Mar 13/14 Fruit Spreads
Mar 15 Fruit Spreads Lab - 10 AM-4:30 PM
Apr 3/4 Low Acid Canning
Apr 5 Low Acid Canning Lab - 10 AM-4:30 PM
Apr 24/25 Dehydration, Be an MFP #2
Apr 26 Dehydration Lab, 10 AM - 4:30 PM
May 8/9 Kitchen Pest Mgmt
May 17 Student presentations - 10 AM-4:30 PM
May 22/23 Emergency Prep, Be an MFP #3
May 29/30 Be an MFP #4, Wrap Up
Webmaster Email: sacmfp@ucanr.edu