Maine Food for October: Potatoes, Apples and Cider

University of Maine Cooperative Extension publishes information to help you find, grow, use, preserve and store in-season fruits and vegetables in Maine. Visit extension.umaine.edu to order or download bulletins to fit the season, including October favorites such as Bulletin #4035 Let’s Preserve: Apples, Bulletin #4179 Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Potatoes and Bulletin #4191 Safe Home Cider Making.

UMaine Extension educator Kathy Savoie recommends getting up-to-date information on the best methods, canners, jars and seals to use to ensure a safe result before preserving food. With the season’s first frost rapidly approaching, it is important for home canners to know that the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning (2015 ed.) recommends that canners select only disease-free and frost-free, preferably vine-ripened, produce for canning. Recommendations are available from local UMaine Extension offices and online at UMaine Extension: Food & Health, including upcoming food preservation workshops and how-to videos.

For more information, call 207.581.3188; 800.287.0274 (in Maine).