UC ANR is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive web experience for all users. If you encounter an accessibility barrier or need content in an alternative or remediated accessible format, please contact anraccessibility@ucanr.edu.

UC Master Food Preserver

UC Master Food Preserver Newsletter

In November of 2024, the UC Master Food Preserver Program launched a monthly newsletter that delivers recipes, how-tos, and food preservation inspiration straight to a subscriber's inbox. Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Do you have a correction, suggestion, or story to share with the newsletter team? Share corrections, suggestions, or stories here.

Past Newsletter Full Emails

2026

2025

2024

Monthly Articles To-date

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

A Brief History of the Canning Jar (March 2026)

March 9, 2026

Monica Gross, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer For most of human history, feeding a family involved navigating times when food was plentiful, such as at harvest time, and periods when it was scarce. Before methods of food preservation were developed, food insecurity was a…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Earl Weak, Class of 2024 MFP Volunteer (March 2026)

March 9, 2026

Earl Weak, UC Master Food Preserver Online Delivery Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Alameda Earl Weak relaxes at his home after an orange harvest (used with permission)My name is Earl Weak. I became UC Master Food Preserver (MFP) in 2024 as a member of the first class of the Online Delivery…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Botulism Is Rare Because We Do It Right (February 2026)

February 15, 2026

Paige Weisskirch, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer “How Death Came, Unbidden, to Mrs. Sales Dinner Party”, an illustration accompanying an article reporting on a botulism outbreak due to improperly processed olives in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 30, 1919. Botulism Is Rare…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Candied Kumquat Flowers for Lunar New Year (February 2026)

February 15, 2026

Marina Hsieh and Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerKnown as Mứt Tắc in Vietnam, these delicious, candied tidbits are a traditional Lunar New Year treat. Just as you eat fresh kumquats whole, you candy all parts of the fruit, whether whole, sliced, or quartered. Serve with tea, in…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Salt, Sugar, and Safety in Baby and Toddler Foods (February 2026)

February 15, 2026

Joy Agcongay, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Why Salt and Sugar Matter in Preserved FoodsWhen we talk about salt and sugar in general cooking, we often think of them as tools to enhance flavor. In food preservation, however, salt and sugar often play a different role. They help…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Cole Imperi, Class of 2025 MFP Volunteer (February 2026)

February 15, 2026

Cole Imperi, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer County of residence: Los Angeles Cole Imperi and fellow trainees (Used with permission). The first time I canned anything was the second summer after I bought my first house a few blocks from the Ohio River in Northern…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Does Your Food Preservation Recipe Need an Altitude Adjustment? (January 2026)

January 14, 2026

Maria Giovanni, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer California has a diverse landscape, with altitudes ranging from 280 feet below sea level (Death Valley) to 14,500 feet (Mt. Whitney). The location of your kitchen is an important consideration in home food preservation. The first step is…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Robin Martin, Class of 2025 MFP Volunteer (January 2026)

January 14, 2026

Robin Martin, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Sacramento Robin Martin (Used with permission). I grew up 10 miles west of the Twin Towers in a third-floor apartment. My mom (a transplant from LA) was (and still is!) an excellent cook; she prepared fresh…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

We Want to Hear from You! - Deadline Extended (January 2026)

January 14, 2026

By Travis R Alexander

Travis Alexander, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program CoordinatorHave you been enjoying Save the Season newsletter? Do you have ideas on how we can make it even better? Let us know by filling out this survey by February 12, 2026 January 10, 2025. We will select three respondents at random to receive…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

We Want to Hear from You! (December 2025)

December 13, 2025

By Travis R Alexander

Travis Alexander, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program CoordinatorHave you been enjoying Save the Season newsletter? Do you have ideas on how we can make it even better?Let us know by filling out this survey by January 10, 2025. We will select one respondent at random to receive a prize.This data is…