Head to Sacramento and attend a Master Food Preserver class.  Not only is it interesting to see how another MFP program leads their classes, but you could pick up some good tips.  Upcoming classes are:  Apples & Olives (Sept 15), Gifts from the Kitchen (Oct 20 & 23), Persimmons & Pomegranates (Nov 17).  For more information, go to http://cesacramento.ucdavis.edu/files/74687.pdf.

Are you interested in herbs?  On October 6, at the UC Davis Arboretum, the co-authors of "Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West: Cultural and Scientific Basis for Their Use" will present an informal talk and chat with audience members about their work.  This free class is called Science Café: Chumash Traditional Medicinal Uses of California Plants and is from 5:15–6:15 p.m.  Website links and more details are in the VMS calendar. Reminder: The medicinal nature of herbs is one area we do not discuss in our public classes or any outreach events - we are not medicinal experts and the liability issues are too great. However, if there is UC research based, published information on the nutritional value of herbs, we can share that information, citing the source.

There’s a new ANR publication that addresses nut safety, nutritional value, and allergies. called Nuts: Safe Methods for Consumers to Handle, Store, and Enjoy (ANR Publication 8406). A hard copy is on the MFP office bulletin board and the pdf document is in VMS in the Newsletters/Documents section, in the Food Safety group.  

Enjoy learning!

Sue Mosbacher
Master Food Preserver Program Representative