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

The Joy of Grape Jelly (December 2025)

December 10, 2025

Ariel Patton, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Hand picked cluster of grapes (Ariel Patton, used with permission). The thousandth grape drops into the bowl. As the wilting days of summer soften into crisp fall mornings, I pick bunches and bunches of grapes from my garden. I…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Monica Gross, Class of 2025 MFP Volunteer (December 2025)

December 9, 2025

Monica Gross, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Los Angeles Monica Gross (Used with permission). Hi! My name is Monica Gross and I am a 2025 graduate of the UC Master Food Preserver (MFP) Online Delivery Program. I heard about the MFP Program when I first…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Pumpkin is more than home décor! (December 2025)

December 9, 2025

Robin Martin, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Although the best pumpkins for cooking are the smaller, sweeter varieties of pumpkin, pretty much any pumpkin can have its life extended after its role as an autumnal decoration is concluded. Prepare and freeze* pumpkin purée for soups,…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

The Genius of Fruitcake: A 2,000-Year-Old Food Preservation Hack (December 2025)

December 9, 2025

Paige Weisskirch, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Dried fruit bread (Photo caption: Paige Weisskirch, used with permission). Every November, I open my pantry and face the same situation: half-empty bags of dried apricots from the previous year’s baking; figs I…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Understanding pH and Why it's Important in Food Preservation (November 2025)

October 31, 2025

Earl Weak, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer In simple terms, pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline (basic) a solution is. A pH below 7 indicates an acid solutionA pH above 7 indicates an alkaline (basic) solutionpH 7 is considered neutral In the context of food…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

All About Apples: Which are Best for Your Recipe? (November 2025)

October 31, 2025

Tim Long, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Red Delicious apples at the market (Photo caption: Tim Long, used with permission). If you’re looking for a native apple tree, you’ll to be disappointed. Apples, other than three varieties of crabapples, aren’t native to the Americas…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Applications Now Open for 2026 UC Master Food Preserver Training Program! (November 2025)

October 31, 2025

By Travis R Alexander

Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Your Name Here MFP Badge (Photo caption: Henry Shaw, used with permission). Do you want to learn more about safe food-preservation techniques? Do you have a passion for sharing your knowledge with others? Are you willing to donate your…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Pasting and Saucing Chile Peppers: Exploring Flavors from New Mexico to Peru (November 2025)

October 31, 2025

Robyn Barker, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer If you have a sunny spot in your garden or on your patio, chili peppers are fun and easy to grow. The plants don’t get too large; they can even be grown in a container. They are relatively disease and pest free. With limited space and…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Mary Nazara, Class of 2025 MFP Volunteer (November 2025)

October 31, 2025

Mary Nazara, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Los Angeles Mary Nazara, used with permission. I started preserving in the summer of 2022 after a phone call from my sister. She had a tree full of ripe plums and didn’t want them to go to waste. I already had…

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Henry Shaw, Class of 2024 MFP Volunteer (October 2025)

October 5, 2025

Henry Shaw UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Contra Costa Image credit: Henry Shaw, 2025. My love of food and cooking began as a small child at my mother’s side in the kitchen. Over the decades, both my culinary interests and kitchen skills have grown…