Become a Far North Master Food Preserver

What Is It

• As a Volunteer of the Master Food Preserver program, you would be considered an agent of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) who educates our community about research-based food preservation techniques.
• Education is done at public events (online and in-person), guest speaker presentations, through newspaper and newsletter articles, and at information booths at farmers markets and county fairs.
• The goal of MFP program is to increase food security and help reduce food waste.
  
  

Who Can Apply

• Residents living in Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, & Trinity counties.
• Applicants must be comfortable using a computer and accessing the internet. Class lessons, quizzes and homework are online using Google Classroom; class communication is via email.
• Applicants must be available to attend the online and in-person labs in Alturas 

How to Apply

1. Watch the training information webinar to learn more about the volunteer requirements as well as the selection and training process. Viewing of the information meeting is a mandatory pre-requisite to apply. Two live Q&A sessions are available to address any questions you have about the new volunteer program. 
   1. Watch the recorded Training Information Meeting
   2. Thursday, November 14, 2024: 6:30 – 7:30 pm
      Q&A session, please watch the recorded training information meeting prior to meeting
      
      These sessions use the same registration link: https://ucanr.edu/2025-mfp-training-mtg
      
      
2. Complete and submit the online application by the end of Sunday, November 25, 2024.
   
   
3. In-person Meet-and-Greet will be in December 2024.

What We’ll Do

• Review applicants. Main criteria for acceptance: Positive attitude, excited to learn, open to new experiences, and mostly importantly a volunteer spirit!
• Request a DOJ Clearance, including fingerprinting.
• Teach you how to preserve food successfully using scientifically researched home processes.
• Teach you how to educate our community about safe home food preservation.
• Provide you with plenty of fun volunteer and continuing education opportunities.

What You'll Do If Accepted

• Pay the $150 course fee by January 4, 2025.
• Attend the 11 classes on the dates listed, as well as the 4 hands-on classes in Alturas. Missed classes must be made up outside of normal class time with a mentor.
• Complete the Live Scan fingerprinting process by February 14, 2025. Information will be sent to accepted trainees.
• Attend at least one public class hosted by a UC Master Food Preserver Program; either in person or online, by May 9, 2025, as part of your training program.
• Attend Far North UC Master Food Preserver meetings, currently the fourth Thursdays at 6:00pm, as often as possible.
• Complete 50 volunteer hours your first full program year, then 25 volunteer and 12 continuing education hours each year thereafter.
• Pass an annual food safety/preservation reappointment quiz.
• Have fun!