2018 Master Food Preserver Volunteer Annual Report

From November 2017 to October 2018, 50 Master Food Preserver volunteers completed over 930 hours of food preservation education, community projects, and administrative tasks. Independentsector.org values volunteer time in Maine at $24.69 per hour, which means that the Master Food Preservers donated the equivalent of $22,960.

From Kittery to Bangor, volunteers taught 66 preserving workshops through Adult Education facilities, Cooperative Extension offices, and community centers. Volunteers staffed 31 educational displays and demonstrated at farmers’ markets, harvest festivals, agricultural fairs, and local food events.

All of these volunteer efforts reached over 3,235 people in 11 Maine counties.

When surveyed, program participants report:

• 88% plan to do something differently when preserving
• 100% understand how to preserve foods better
• 96% feel more confident about their food preservation skills

Workshop participants plan to can jam and jelly, pickles, and tomato sauces, while freezing vegetables, fruits, and tomato sauces.

Thank you, Master Food Preservers, for your work this year helping to extend the reach of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in food preservation education!

For more information about becoming a Master Food Preserver volunteer, please visit UMaine Extension: Food & Health. For information about food preservation activities in your area, please see our schedule of hands-on workshops.