FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
Master Food Preserver Volunteers Help the Community Preserve the Harvest
Clackamas County Extension’s 2025 Master Food Preserver Volunteer training welcomed a new cohort committed to safe and science-based food preservation. Volunteers completed an intensive eight-week program covering canning, freezing, drying, fermentation/pickling, and food safety, then applied their skills to support the community.
Throughout the year, volunteers lead monthly food-preservation classes and staff at information booths in Molalla, Milwaukie, and Oregon City, as well as at OSU Extension events, including the NWREC Open House, Spring Garden Fair, 4-H, and Tree School.
They also partner with Clackamas County libraries that host Library of Things food-preservation equipment. In 2025, volunteers taught at the Canby and Sandy libraries on topics such as Demystifying Your Pressure Canner and Preserving Tomatoes and Tomato Products, increasing interest in food preservation equipment borrowed.
Programming is expected to expand to Milwaukie, Oregon City, and Estacada libraries in 2026. Volunteers are also creating equipment “unboxing” videos to promote safe equipment use.
Safe food preservation helps families preserve the harvest and reduce food waste, strengthening food security in Clackamas County.
MFP cohort with mentors outside the Extension Annex (Photo by: Buffy Rhoades)