Learn, launch and level up your food business. That’s the theme for Food Biz Con to be held March 7-8, 2024, in Independence, MO.
This is a free, two-day conference is for those with mobile food businesses, small food production, restaurants and agriculture. It will help connect food entrepreneurs with workshops and networking opportunities to help businesses grow.
Whether you have a food business or still dreaming, this conference is a great way to learn and launch!
Agriculture affects every aspect of our lives. From food, to clothing, to renewable fuel and much more.
National Ag Day will be March 19, 2024 with the theme of Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.
The website has many tools and information on how to promote the event and ideas to plan activities centered around agriculture. Event flyers, logos, social media tools, radio scripts and an essay contest are a few of the ways to participate in this event.
Food preservation education is essential to preserving food safely. Using the most up-to-date recipes and methods can lead to success. The following K-State Research and Extension publications have been updated, and a few more will be available in the next few weeks. All of these will be translated into Spanish.
Preserve it Fresh, Preserve it Safe
How-to Guides
It has been a few years since the Ball® Blue Book® has been updated. The new 38th edition will be coming out this spring.
It includes over 500 recipes with 40 new recipes. It is updated with the latest research to ensure safe and successful canning for all. It includes canning freezing, drying, pickling and more.
Look for this new edition at major retailers such as WalMart, Target, Kroger stores, Ace Hardware and other retailers.
The Ball® Complete Book of Home Preserving has also been updated, the new copyright is 2024.
Also, please note that Ball® Fruit Fresh is being discontinued.
The Heartland Regional Food Business Center, a USDA funded program serving Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, is a program to help encourage local food producers to build their businesses. The mission is to help local and regional food businesses and markets with startup resources, learn ways to grow their business, and connect with partners for food processiong, distribution, technical assistance and more.
One way to get connected is to sign up for the monthly newsletter to learn about grant opportunities and connect with technical partners.
Football games are great events to gather with family and friends. As the final football game is upon us, plan your party with food safety in mind to keep food safety penalties away.
Take steps to tackle food safety with these simple tips! You’ll score a touchdown with your family and friends!
Learn more about steps to safe food handling at https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/handling.html.
Some consumers have encountered problems with the removable pot inside the Presto® Precise Digital Canner, specifically model 02144 07 series. Here is information from Presto®.
“We have recently received a few reports from consumers of issues with the coating on the removable pot of their model 02144 07 series of the Presto® Precise Digital Canner. The 07 series has a new coating that was believed to be even better than the original. Unfortunately, there may have been some issues with the application of this new coating, and in some instances the coating is blistering. In a few, it has come off the pot, and can potentially stick to the sealing ring. Presto® values you, our customer, and feels it is important to inform you of important issues. We ask that you reach out to Presto® Customer Service at 800-877-0441 for assistance if you experience this issue; however, we hope you will be patient. We have just learned of the issue and do not have replacement pots available at this time. We will replace the pot for you as soon as new inventory arrives. In the meantime, you can safely continue to use the pot. If you need to scrub loose coating off, you can without compromising the function of the pot. It just won’t look “pretty”. Also, we recommend that no vinegar or cream of tartar is added to the water. We extend our sincere appreciation to you for your understanding of this matter.”
As stated above, if you are having problems, contact the Presto® Customer Service. They are very willing to help.
The Home Baking Association is once again promoting baking during the month of February.
Each week they have developed baking activities, recipes and opportunties to get the family together to bake. This can be a multi-generational activity with tasty treats to share.
This is the list of ideas for each week in February.
The Home Baking Association strives to promote baking at home for all ages. With that, they offer two awards each year for educators and youth to promote the educational activities related to baking.
For the Educator Award, submit a baking lesson or community service program or skills traing program. This award is open to professionals or adult and youth leaders and volunteers in the classroom and outside the classroom. See the details and how to enter at https://www.homebaking.org/educator-award/.
For the Bake to Give Maddie Kruse Youth Award, submit a one page description of how you shared baking in your community and made a difference. Provide pictures, videos, recipes and other materials that show an impact in your community. This award is for youth grades 7 through 12. See the details and how to enter at https://www.homebaking.org/youthaward/.
Deadline to enter is March 31, 2024.
Recent cold weather has created challenges for all of us. Power outages can lead to many problems. If you have canned foods, either home canned or commercially canned, in a storage location that froze, what can you do?
Check for broken seals or seams in metal cans or broken glass in home canned foods due to expansion of the food and liquid inside the container. If all are intact, they can be saved. Thaw gradually and store at room temperature.
For commecially canned foods, if seams are broken, that can lead to contamination and be unsafe to eat. Discard these cans.
For home canned foods, discard broken glass containers. If the lid became unsealed, and the jar thawed to room temperature, discard these too.
If a glass jar became unsealed but is still frozen, this can be safely used immediately or transfered to a new container and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
During cold weather, wrap jars or cans in paper and cover with blankets to insulate them. Another option for vulnerable storage locations is to prop open pantry or cupboard doors to allow warm air inside.
For more information on food safety during power outages, see https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/disaster.html.
Source: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/food/preservation/safety-canned-food-freezes