Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Impact Report

For plan Protect Food from Microbial Contamination through Food Safety Education (Bernalillo County)
Date October 31, 2011, 1:51 pm
For Objective None (administrative message)
Impact Report Food Preservation Food preservation education in Bernalillo County has grown in interest and many people for the first time are seeking classes that teach the basics of food preservation. ACES FCS specialist offered a three day training in Las Cruces so all the Home Economist around the state to learn best practices in food preservation. NMSU AGRO GUARD funded this training and continues to provide the Home Economist with any helpful tools and research based information to share with students on safe food preservation practices. The summer of 2011 the Home Economist taught 12 hands on lab food preservation classes in the county using the 4H building and a community center. The topic of these classes which were attended by some 130 people were; water bath and pressure canning, jam and jelly making, pickling and freezing and drying. In addition to the adult audiences during the summer the Home Economist did 2 food preservation classes for Bernalillo Ct. 4H clubs. Another 5 classes were given to a variety of audiences, church groups, garden clubs and community centers where food preservation techniques and safety practices were shared. The county has seen an increase in home gardens and there were many questions on what to do with all the produce once it was harvested. Using Cooperative Extension curriculum and handouts good research based education was share with many through these classes and through numerous phone consultations. During the summer months the Home Economist sat up an information table at all of the Grower’s Markets in the county (attending each market one time). In addition to food preservation class information many ACES publications were shared and questions answered. The Bernalillo County Home Economist was a guest speaker for the Valencia Ct. Home and Garden Show in March 2011 presenting on safe practices in food preservation.