Eleven people recently completed University of Illinois Extension"s Master Food Preserver course.

Helen Brown, Saunemin; Kelly deJarnette, Joe Delaney and Cindy Kinate, Fairbury; Virginia Freutel, Dwight; Carolyn Gerwin, Beverly Long and Tyler Schoenherr, Pontiac; Cara Weber, Plainfield; Ellen Luhman, Cissna Park; and Bobbi Leacock, Odell; all completed more than 30 hours of training presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition and wellness educator with University of Illinois Extension.

The training program included five days of lecture and "hands-on" lab work with freezing and boiling-water-bath canning of fruits and vegetables, pressure-canning, pickling, food-drying and preserving jams and jellies. In addition, the classroom work featured intensive study of safe food-handling practices and prevention of foodborne illness.

Master Food Preservers are able to answer consumer questions about safe canning practices, test pressure canners and provide printed food-preservation instructions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other reputable sources.

The U of I Extension Office in Pontiac offers free pressure-canner gauge testing by appointment. For further information about home food preservation, or to make an appointment for gauge testing, contact the Livingston County Extension Office at 815-842-1776.