Starting a UC Master Food Preserver Program Sue Mosbacher Central Sierra MG & MFP Coordinator Missy Gable UC Master Gardener Program Director
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 5. Offer snapshot of costs associated with a program
Who s Here?
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 Credit: Melissa Womack
Who is just getting started? San Francisco-San Mateo (in training) San Luis Obispo (in training) Shasta (coming soon!) Credit: Orange County MFPs
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. Credit: Melissa Womack
Program Responsibilities Address the mission of the UC land grant system to extend safe home food preservation information Prevent botulism in home canning Focus on ANR Strategic Initiatives
Core Topics Food Safety Equipment Jams & Jellies High Acid Foods Low Acid Foods Pickling Dehydration Freezing & Refrigeration Teaching & Program Implementation Credit: Orange County MFPs
What is NOT covered: Cottage Food Preservation practices not covered by or recommended by the USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation http://nchfp.uga.edu/ Credit: Missy Gable
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 Credit: UC Master Gardener Archives
History 2013 9 programs; Co-Directors appointed 2014 Program becomes official statewide program under UC ANR and received a two year temporary budget Source: camasterfoodpreservers.ucanr.edu
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 Credit: Missy Gable In development!
Credit: MFP Program of El Dorado County Statewide Resources Website Going live October 20th VMS Upgrading to 2.1 Fall 2014 Administrative Handbook ETA Fall 2014 Logo In development!
camasterfoodpreservers.ucanr.edu
Statewide Resources More Academics Training - Academics Summer 2015 - Coordinators (MFP VMI ) Fall 2015 Credit: MFP Program of El Dorado County
Statewide Resources Annual online recertification test Spring 2015 Collaborative Tools group for MFP Coordinators Food Safety brochures Credit: Regents of the University of California
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) Credit: Missy Gable
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 Adjustable demonstration table Portable display mirror Portable burners Pressure canner test kit & forms Basic canning supplies for 3-4 training groups MFP Banner MFP VMS Credit: Melissa Varcak
How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin San Luis Obispo
Humboldt (2011) How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin San Luis Obispo 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
Amador/Calaveras (2012) How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin San Luis Obispo 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 Advisor shared over 8 counties
Orange (2012) How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin San Luis Obispo 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 Neighboring County Nutrition Advisor
How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino 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? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino 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 CD / Nutrition Advisor / Coordinator
How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino 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? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino 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 Year 1: Potential new member trainers
San Luis Obispo (Fall 2014) How d They Do It? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino San Francisco/San Mateo San Joaquin San Luis Obispo 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? Amador/Calaveras El Dorado Humboldt Inyo/Mono Los Angeles Orange County Sacramento San Bernardino 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 UCCE Program Rep involvement
Steps to Initiating a MFP Program 1. Community Interest 2. County Support - consideration of logistics, especially training locations and fund development 3. UCCE Support willing County Director & Academic Credit: Missy Gable
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. Credit: Missy Gable
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/ Credit: Melissa Womack
Funding Program Materials UCCE Be Smart about Safety (BSAS) Funds UCCE Program Development Funds Donations Public MGs & New Members Partnerships with local stores Demonstration materials Discounts MFP Promotion Credit: MFP Program of El Dorado County
Initial Training Use existing programs Training Manual Guest MFP instructors Advisor instructor Mentor County Credit: Sue Mosbacher
Next Steps & Review of How to Initiate a Program 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 Credit: Missy Gable
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 5. Offer snapshot of costs associated with a program
Thank you! Any Questions? Sue Mosbacher smosbacher@ucanr.edu Missy Gable mjgable@ucanr.edu