Starting a UC Master Food Preserver Program

Starting a UC Master Food

Preserver Program

Sue Mosbacher

Central Sierra MG & MFP Coordinator

Missy Gable

Presentation Goals:

1. Offer overview of UC MFP Program including mission, history, program staff and resources (both existing and in development)

2. Discuss program needs including staff, facilities and tools with show and tell of Sue’s favorite materials

3. How’d They Do It? – Review of existing MFP programs and how they function

4. Outline steps to getting started

Who has UC Master Food

Preserver Programs?

Central Sierra

(El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras) Humboldt Inyo-Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino San Joaquin

Who is just getting started?

San Francisco-San Mateo

(in training)

San Luis Obispo

(in training)

Shasta

(coming soon!)

Program Mission

To extend research based knowledge and information on safe home food preservation methods to the residents

of California and be guided by our core values and strategic initiatives.

Program Responsibilities

• Address the mission of the UC land grant system to extend safe home food preservation

information

• Prevent botulism in home canning

Core Topics

• Dehydration

• Freezing & Refrigeration

• Teaching & Program Implementation

What is NOT covered:

Credit: Missy Gable

• Cottage Food

• Preservation practices not covered by or recommended by the USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation

History

Food preservation pre-dates agriculture and is critically

important to civilization. We have a rich history with canning and a recent revival. Today is the

‘couture canning’ age.

Credit: National Agricultural Library (top); UC Master Gardener Archives (bottom)

History

1983 – First UC Master Food Preserver Program in CA

2010 – 3 programs

2011 – 4 programs

History

2013 – 9 programs; Co-Directors appointed

2014 – Program becomes official statewide program under UC ANR and received a two year temporary budget

Statewide Staff

Connie Schneider

Youth Families and Communities Director, MFP Co-Director MFP Role:

Support academics and program content Missy Gable MG Director, MFP Co-Director

MFP Role: Support volunteer management and program structure

Statewide Staff

Linda Harris

Cooperative Extension Specialist in Microbial Food Safety MFP Role:

Statewide Academic Advisor

Look for Linda at statewide training events!

Statewide Resources

• Logo

In development!

• Statewide Steering Committee

ETA Spring 2015

• California Master Food Preserver Handbook

In development!

Statewide Resources

• Website

Going live October 20th

• VMS Upgrading to 2.1 Fall 2014 • Administrative Handbook ETA Fall 2014 • Logo In development! Cre di t: M FP P rog ram of E l Dorado Cou nt y

Statewide Resources

Statewide Resources

• Annual online recertification test

Spring 2015

• Collaborative Tools group for MFP Coordinators

• Food Safety brochures Credit: Regents of the

Successful Staffing

County Director

• Program Approval

• Funding

UCCE Academic Advisor

• Academic oversight

• Nutrition

• Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences

• Food Safety

• Teach Food Safety during training

• Should be manageable involvement: program follows narrow focus

Successful Staffing

UCCE Program Coordinator

• Day-to-day activities

• New volunteer training

MFP Mentor (existing MFP program)

Site Logistics

Training Site

• Space for at least three ‘teams’ to cook & classroom space

• Senior Center, Home Economics classroom, Grange Hall, Fairgrounds, etc.

Public Class Site

• Access to a kitchen (minimum requirement: sink)

• Power outlets for portable burners.

• Demonstration table

• Conference room, Senior Center, Fairgrounds, Demonstration kitchen

Program Tools

Show and Tell

• Portable display mirror

• Portable burners

• Pressure canner test kit & forms

• Basic canning supplies for 3-4 training groups

• MFP Banner

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

Humboldt (2011)

How:

• 3 women asked for it • Willing Advisor

• Ex-Sacramento MFP team

• One year of monthly planning mtgs • Customized training manual

• Sac MFP Instructors

Funding:

• Extra MG funds • Training fees

Founding Members:

• Year 1: 9 Saturday classes • Farm & Community Advisor • Retired Public Health Advisor

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

Amador/Calaveras (2012)

How:

• Willing MCP Program Rep / MFP

Funding:

• None

• UCCE Storage Units

• Borrowed supplies from El Dorado • Donations

• Safety & Program Funds

Founding Members:

• Year 1: MGs only • Program Rep

• MCP Nutrition Advisor

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

Orange (2012)

How:

• Driven by interested MGs • 2 trained at San Bernardino

• Transferred MG project process to MFP

Funding:

• $1000 from CD for basic equipment • Training registration fees

Founding Members:

• Year 1: MGs only

• MG/MFP Program Rep

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

Los Angeles (2012)

How:

• San Bernardino MFP moved there • Paid initial instructor

Funding:

• $2000 Annenburg Foundation Grant • Silent auctions

• Donations • Training fees

Founding Members:

• Year 1: MGs & public

• Orange County MFP Program Rep • Nutrition Advisor

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo

San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

San Joaquin (January 2013)

How:

• 1 week crash course

• El Dorado & Sac MFP instructors

Funding:

• None

• Donations • Training fees

Founding Members:

• Year 1: MGs & public • Small group

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

Inyo/Mono (2014)

How:

• Alternate annual training between MGs & MFPs

• Training 2 full days every 4 weeks • El Dorado MFP instructors

Funding:

• Large grant covering all startup supplies, instructor travel expenses • Training costs = training fees

Founding Members:

• Year 1: MGs & public • MG / MFP Program Rep

• Now 2 volunteers & CD • Neighboring Nutrition Advisor

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo

San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

San Francisco/San Mateo (Fall 2014)

How:

• Elkus Ranch – MG demo garden,

commercial kitchen, youth programs – perfect combination

Funding:

• Temp funds from Elkus Ranch • Extend Prog Rep from 75% - 100% • Training costs = training fees

• Seeking grants

• Teen summer camp program

Founding Members:

• 1 staff & 1 volunteer @ Amador

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo (Fall 2014)

How:

• Classes to low-income residents at Food Bank

• Kickstarter for MFP program

Initial Funding:

• 3-yr grant - USDA Community Food Project w/Food Bank

• Training – cost recovery

Founding Members:

• 1 trainee from San Joaquin

• 1 former MFP – NCHFP online course

• UCCE Coordinator: Health Education Specialist

• Oversight: Youth, Families & Community Advisor

How’d They Do It?

San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin

San Luis Obispo

New Program Benefits

• Aligned with MG program

New Program Challenges

• Start with proper staffing

• Staff funding

• Clear UCCE program understanding

• Initial CE opportunities

• Available kitchens / class sites

Steps to Initiating a MFP Program

Credit: Missy Gable

1. Community Interest 2. County Support

-consideration of logistics,

especially training locations and fund development

3. UCCE Support –

willing County Director & Academic

Cost

Administrative Costs

• Salary starts at $17.10/hour for less than 50% time; $28.22 for 50% time or more.

Material Cost

• $1500 - $2000 (for class of 12)

Low end assumes materials borrowed (e.g., cooking pots, canners, utensils).

Other costs may include facility rentals, handout printing and food/lab materials.

Fund Development

We are a publicly funded academic institution and therefore subject to unique guidelines for fun management.

Policies are in place to safeguard the trust of the public.

Credit: Regents of the University of California

Financial Policies & Resources

Accounting Principles of Community

http://accounting.ucdavis.edu/controls/accountingpri nciplesofcommunity.cfm BOC-K Website http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Busin ess_Operations/Business_Operations_Center_-_Kearney/

UCCE Procedures Guide

http://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/Administration/Busin

ess_Operations/Business_Operations_Center_-_Kearney/UCCE_Procedures_Guide/

Funding Program Materials

Credit: MFP Program of El Dorado County

• UCCE Be Smart about Safety (BSAS) Funds

• UCCE Program Development Funds

• Donations

• Public

• MGs & New Members

• Partnerships with local stores

• Demonstration materials • Discounts

• Use existing programs

• Training Manual

• Guest MFP instructors

• Advisor instructor

• Mentor County

Credit: Sue Mosbacher

Next Steps & Review of How to Initiate a Program

Credit: Missy Gable

1. If you haven’t already, identify community interest

2. Touch base with existing programs that resonate with your county

3. Get county support 4. Get UCCE support

Review of Presentation Goals:

1. Offer overview of UC MFP Program including mission, history, program staff and resources (both existing and in development)

2. Discuss program needs including staff, facilities and tools with show and tell of Sue’s favorite materials

3. How’d They Do It? – Review of existing MFP programs and how they function

4. Outline steps to getting started

Thank you!

Any Questions?

Sue Mosbacher

[email protected]

Missy Gable

[email protected]