Safely preserving food is important. OSU provides science-based information on the safe methods for preserving food at home. Our office offers food preservation publications for a nominal cost with step-by-step directions on how to preserve most foods. Many publications also can be viewed and downloaded, ordered online, or purchased at the Extension office in Oregon City.

Family Food Educators

The OSU Extension Service in Oregon City offers food preservation training classes every spring. The program is designed to prepare volunteers to deliver food preservation and safety information to residents in Clackamas County--primarily at farmers' markets in Oregon City, Milwaukie, and Lake Oswego.

Formerly called the Master Food Preserver Program, OSU changed the name and format to Family Food Education Program, which now emphasizes general nutrition and food safety as well as food preservation.

Volunteers completing the program are expected to “return” 30 hours of volunteer service to the community, sharing their new skills and information with others. Besides staffing farmers' market booths, they also help test pressure canner dial gauges, answer consumer phone calls, teach canning classes, and speak to interested groups.

Caption: Food preservation trainees learn the differences among commercial pectin products and practice making jams and jellies.

Call us with your food safety or food preservation question, 503-655-8634.

Home Preservation Resources

The Presto Company provides important information on the basic of home pressure canning.

Lost your Presto manual? Check the list of manuals available to download.

Learn the difference between boiling water bath canning and pressure canning from Clemson University in South Carolina.

The proper care and maintenance of your pressure canner is important. Learn more.