As canning season gets underway, the food safety and preservation helpline from Oregon State University Extension Service has started taking calls – their official annual reopen was on July 7.
The toll-free helpline, 800-354-7319, is open from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. The helpline is staffed by certified Master Food Preserver volunteers in several Oregon counties. The program will run until October 10. After that, the helpline will remain open and will be checked weekly for voice messages. In 2024, the volunteers fielded 723 calls.
“Preserving the summer harvest is a cherished tradition for Oregonians, but safely preserving and storing foods can be challenging to do well, and potentially dangerous if not done properly,” said Jared Hibbard-Swanson, food security and safety program manager at OSU Extension. “The OSU helpline gives those folks who are canning, drying and freezing foods at home a chance to leave a voicemail with their questions and get a call back from a trained volunteer who can troubleshoot their preservation or food safety concerns.”
Most commonly, helpline callers ask about recipes for canned salsa and fruits, refrigerator usage and where to get a pressure canner gauge checked. OSU Extension offers these publications: Salsa Recipes for Canning, Canning Seafood, Canning tomatoes and tomato products and Use, Care and Operation of Your Pressure Canner.
Additional publications and fact sheets are available on the OSU Extension website.
Launched in 1980 in Lane County, the Master Food Preserver Program has grown to include more than 300 Master Food Preservers who complete an eight-week course to become certified, volunteer on the helpline and host workshops and information booths at fairs and farmers markets.
Ask Extension, an online question-and-answer service, is another way to get information. Extension experts can offer information about anything related to food preservation – from safety concerns to recipes – and strive to respond within two business days.
Additionally, several Extension offices offer free pressure canner dial gauge testing. Helpline volunteers can provide information specific to a county.
By Grace Xue
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