Applications for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer program will be available starting March 3. Master Food Preserver Volunteers deliver UMaine Extension’s education programs in food preservation to adults and youth. Upon successful completion of the program, Master Food Preservers serve as community resources to provide the public with research-based information from Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The program consists of 8 hands-on kitchen labs, held Thursdays from 1-4:30 p.m., June 12 to August 28 at the Penobscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor and UMaine Hitchner Hall, 7 Portage Rd., Orono. The course covers food preservation techniques, including canning, drying, freezing, fermenting and winter storage, as well as important food safety information.
Class size is limited and interested individuals are required to fill out an application. The application deadline is May 2, 2025. Participants will be informed of their selection status during the last week of May. For more information, please visit the program website.
The fee for the class is $325 upon acceptance into the program. Limited financial assistance is available. Any Maine resident 18 years or older is eligible to apply. The application form will be available online starting March 3. Requests for a hard copy of the application can be made by contacting extension.rlreception@maine.edu or 207.781.6099. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Kathy Savoie, ksavoie@maine.edu, 207.781.6099 or 1.800.287.1471 (in Maine).
