Are you interested in learning how to safely preserve food, or update and improve your skills? Then consider becoming a part of the Coos County Master Food Preservers by taking the annual training course beginning in April. Training covers preservation techniques in drying, freezing, pickling, making jams/jellies and safely canning fruits, meats, fish and vegetables. An eight week course makes up the training which begins April 12 and continues every Thursday through May 31. Trainees attend the eight training classes, where they will practice their food preservation skills with veteran volunteers doing in class labs and discussions, and complete homework between classes. Each training will be held at the Coos County Extension Service, in Myrtle Point, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course fee of $150 includes a comprehensive resource manual. Payment can be made by credit card by going to the following website http://extension.oregonstate.edu/coos/2015-master-food-preservers-training. Trainees who “pay back” 40 hours of volunteer service to the program in the year following their training will receive a $50 refund. Registration packets are available at the Extension Service and on the website listed above. The deadline for application is Friday, March 23. To register, or for more information, call the Extension Service at 541-572-5263, ext. 25299.
