Category: Food Systems & Safety

Cohort Two of the Clemson Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver program graduated at the Philips Market Center in Columbia, SC on January 29, 2025. Participants completed a two-part training program consisting of an eight-week self-paced online training course and a two-day in-person intensive course. Participants then completed 30 hours of volunteer service alongside Clemson Cooperative Extension Food Systems and Safety Agents. Activities conducted by the participants included home food preservation workshops and demonstrations, community outreach informational booths, pressure canner gauge testing, public school food preservation classes, and the dissemination of research-based information about safe home food preservation methods across South Carolina.

Five graduates from Cohort Two are in Upstate South Carolina and represent Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Oconee counties. These graduates add to the nine Master Food Preservers from Cohort One in the Upstate which represent Greenville, Pickens, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Oconee counties. Additionally, five new Upstate participants from Cohort Three are beginning the volunteer service hour portion of their Master Food Preserver training.

Look to find Master Food Preservers at your local farmers markets, community centers, county fairs and other locations across the Upstate to learn about safe home food preservation.

If you are interested in home food preservation information or want to become a Clemson Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver contact Food Systems and Safety Agent Alex Thompson by email (art6@clemson.edu) or by phone (864-986-1286).

Spring Registration Now Open!

Are you ready to savor the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round? Join us this spring at the Midlands Food Preservation Workshops, where you can learn the art of canning from farm-to-table. Our unique, hands-on workshops offer the perfect opportunity to dive into the world of home food preservation, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner.

What to Expect

Participants will engage in hand-on activities using the latest recommended techniques for preserving foods at home. You’ll leave with the items you’ve prepared, a comprehensive resource book, printed materials, and the confidence to safely preserve food at home.

• Cost: $35 per workshop
• Class Size: Limited to 10 participants (minimum of 5)
• What to Bring: Your own snack/lunch and closed-toe shoes

Workshop Schedule

March: York County – Pressure Canning

• Dates:
  • Friday, March 7th, 10 AM – 2 PM
  • Saturday, March 8th, 10 AM – 2 PM
• Location: York Extension Office, 120 North Congress St., York, SC
• Registration Close Date: Friday, February 28th at 12 PM

March: Kershaw County – Pickling

• Dates:
  • Friday, March 28th, 10 AM – 2 PM
  • Saturday, March 29th, 10 AM – 2 PM
• Location: FCL Homemaker’s Building, 634 W Dekalb St., Camden, SC
• Registration Close Date: Friday, March 21st at 12 PM

June: Kershaw County – Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads

• Dates:
  • Friday, June 27th, 10 AM – 2 PM
  • Saturday, June 28th, 10 AM – 2 PM
• Location: FCL Homemaker’s Building, 634 W Dekalb St., Camden, SC
• Registration Close Date: Friday, June 20th at 12 PM

Don’t miss the chance to learn valuable skills that will benefit you and your family. 
Reserve your spot today and embark on a delicious journey into the world of food preservation!

Alex Ryan Thompson
Food Systems and Safety Agent
Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties

            In the Carolinas, autumn means apples. While Western North Carolina may be well known for its apple orchards, Upstate South Carolina has its own thriving network of apple growers. Orchards featuring farm stores, U-Pick, apple-centric treat and beverages, and bushels of fun for the whole family can be found across the Upstate, from Oconee to York counties. To find an orchard near you, check out https://certifiedsc.com/.

            Cool autumn days lure many to grab the family, their jackets and a wagon; ready to revel in the crisp, sweet, and crunchy bounty of our Upstate apple orchards. One can find few better ways to spend an autumn afternoon than wandering through seemingly endless rows of apple trees, heavy with a summer’s worth of love, care, and attention from their tenders. Swept up in the magic of the day, more than a few families find themselves arriving home with a trunk nearly bursting open with apples. Whimsy quickly gives way to worry, as the realization hits that not even the most apple-loving family can eat THAT many fresh apples before they end up bound for the compost heap. Fret not, family of over-eager apple-pickers, there is a bounty of ways to preserve and make those apples last all the way until next autumn.

            Apples can be turned into a cornucopia of treats and pantry staples, ready to keep the spirit of autumn alive year-round. Cover your favorite morning toast with a slather of apple jelly or beautifully spiced apple butter, which also makes a great addition to a BBQ sauce! Warm everyone’s hearts and stomach with a fresh apple pie, made from home canned or frozen apple pie filling. Cook the apples down into applesauce or dry them into chips for a quick and easy snack for apple lovers of all ages. Press or juice these apples into cider, that can be drunk fresh, canned for year-round cider, or fermented into hard cider for an autumnal adult beverage. Dress up any of these homemade treats with some decorative packaging and ribbon for a quick and easy way to cross names of your Christmas shopping list. The options are many and learning to preserve the Upstate’s apple bounty is easy! Visit the Clemson Home and Garden Information Center Factsheet 3120 Preserving Apples (https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/preserving-apples) or contact Alex Ryan Thompson by phone at (864) 365-0628 or by email art6@clemson.edu to learn more.

Happy Autumn and Happy Apple Picking!

The ServSafe® food safety training uses material from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and is taught by Clemson University Extension Agents who are Registered ServSafe Proctors and Certified ServSafe Instructors by the NRA. Permitted Retail Food Establishments (RFE) in South Carolina are required to have a least one Certified Food Protection Manager.

Need a class or to re-certify? Sign Up for a class!

Become a South Carolina Master Food Preserver!

Join our community of passionate food enthusiasts and extend Clemson Extension’s educational programs. Our comprehensive training includes an 8-week online course and a 2-day intensive session in January 2025. Gain 30 hours of hands-on experience and volunteer in your community to earn your certification. Sign up today and start your journey to becoming a food preservation expert!

Complete the Pre-Registration by Wednesday, September 11th.

Come join us and learn the basics of canning fruits and vegetables from local farms and home gardens through a unique canning workshop. Participants will engage in hands-on activities using current recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use. Those with or without experience are encouraged to attend. Participants will receive the item(s) they prepare in class, a resource book, other printed materials, and knowledge of safe home canning methods.

Cost is $35 per workshop. Class size is limited to 10 participants, with a minimum of 5. Participants should bring their lunch and wear closed-toe shoes.

Workshops will be held at the FCL Homemakers Building in Camden, SC from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on the following Dates:

• Friday, September 13th Pickling
• Saturday, September 14th Pickling
• Thursday, October 17th Pressure Canning
• Friday, October 18th Pressure Canning
• Friday, November 8th Pressure Canning
• Saturday, November 9th Pressure Canning
• Friday, December 13th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads
• Saturday, December 14th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads

Register for a Canning Workshop!

Canning is an important and safe method of food preservation if practiced properly. The canning process involves placing foods in jars and heating to a temperature that destroys organisms that could be a health hazard or cause the food to spoil.

Participants will be engaged in hands-on activities utilizing current USDA recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use.

Persons with or without experience are encouraged to attend any workshop.

Participants will receive:

• Resource Guide
• Handouts and printed materials
• Knowledge of home canning materials
• Item prepared in class

Registration is required, so sign up today!

                          Register Here

Alex Ryan Thompson, Food Systems and Safety Agent

The first cohort of South Carolina Master Food Preservers graduated at the Philips Market Center in Columbia, South Carolina on January 24^th, 2024. The South Carolina Master Food Preserver program began in Fall 2022 and aims to expand the reach of  Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Food Systems and Safety team. Master Food Preservers were trained in various disciplines of food preservation including canning, dehydrating, freezing, and fermentation. Participants completed an 8-week online course, a 2-day intensive training, and completed 30 hours of volunteer service to earn the title of South Carolina Master Food Preserver. Participants assisted Clemson Cooperative Extension agents across South Carolina. Volunteer activities included assisting Food Systems and Safety agents with home food preservation workshops, participating in information booths at local farmers markets, creating instructional videos, writing articles about food preservation, judge county fair canning competitions, and many other exciting volunteer opportunities. The 2024 cohort of South Carolina Master Food Preservers have recently completed their 2-day intensive and are beginning their volunteer hours. To learn more about becoming a Master Food Preserver contact Food Systems and Safety Agent Alex Ryan Thompson by phone (864-365-0628) or email (art6@clemson.edu).

Clemson Extension in partnership with Fairfield County’s Carolina Community Actions, Inc. recently hosted a food safety and nutrition program for twenty-two adults. The program focused on teaching participants about healthy eating on a budget while also emphasizing the importance of food safety.

The program included interactive sessions and hands-on activities to help participants learn practical skills for meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. Participants also learned about the risks associated with foodborne illnesses and how to prevent them through proper food handling and storage. Overall, the program provided a valuable opportunity for participants to improve their nutrition knowledge and skills while also ensuring their family’s safety as well as their own.

Come join us and learn the basics of canning fruits and vegetables from local farms and home gardens through a unique canning workshop. Participants will engage in hands-on activities using current recommended techniques for preserving foods for home use. Those with or without experience are encouraged to attend. Participants will receive the item(s) they prepare in class, resource book, other printed materials, and knowledge of safe home canning methods.

Cost: $35 per workshop. Participants should bring their lunch and wear closed-toe shoes.

Class Size: Class is limited to 10 participants, with a minimum of 5.

Dates:

• Friday, September 29th Salsa
• Saturday, September 30th Salsa
• Thursday, October 19th Pressure Canning
• Friday, October 20th Pressure Canning
• Friday, November 10th Pressure Canning
• Saturday, November 11th Pressure Canning
• Friday, December 14th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads
• Saturday, December 15th Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads

Location: FCL Homemakers Building 634 Dekalb St. Camden, SC 29020

Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Registration Required to join a workshop.