Starting on Wednesday, May 2, the MFP volunteers will have a booth at the Coos Bay Farmers’ Market. They will be offering free gauge testing, as well as answering your food preservation questions. Hours will be 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Master Food Preservers will be at that location the first Wednesday of each month, through the market season. If you can’t make it to the Farmers Market, you can always have your gauge tested at the OSU Extension Office in Myrtle Point. Call ahead to make sure someone is there to test. The office is located at 631 Alder St, Myrtle Point OR 97458 and office hours are 8-5pm Monday-Friday. When bringing your gauge in for testing, you can leave it attached to the canner lid. You may also choose to bring the entire canner so a thorough inspection can be made of the equipment. For more information about gauge testing, to ask food preservation questions, or to just learn more about the Master Food Preserver program, contact coordinator Samantha Clayburn at 541-572-5263, ext. 25299.
