2025 UC Master Food Preserver Training Program Application

The UC Master Food Preserver Program extends UC research-based information about home food safety and preservation to the public. We do this through classes, media and outreach events led by our certified volunteers, and more. Join us!

Please complete the application below to take the first step towards becoming a volunteer.

Please read the code of conduct as you will agree to abide by it in the questions below.

We often take photos during our events to use on social media and other marketing platforms. Please read the Photo Model Release form as you will give your response in the questions below.

You will receive an email copy of your application for your records.

The following programs are participating in the statewide training in 2025. If your county is not listed, please visit their website to see if they are conducting a local new volunteer training program.

Amador/Calaveras
Fresno/Madera/Merced
Inter-Mountain Region (Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra)
North State (Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou)
Sacramento
San Bernardino/Riverside
San Diego
San Mateo/San Francisco
Solano/Yolo
Sonoma
Tulare
Tuolumne
UC MFP Online Program (only online classes, no in-person public events)

✻ = Required

Program County: ✻

First Name (preferred name): ✻

Last Name: ✻

Legal name (if different than listed above, used to confirm DOJ check)

Mailing Address: ✻

City: ✻

State:

Zip Code: ✻

Email: ✻

Primary Phone (with area code): ✻

Secondary Phone (with area code):

Please complete the following:

1. What excites you about the opportunity to be a UC Master Food Preserver volunteer?

2. How do you plan to use the information you learn in the UC Master Food Preserver Program to improve and strengthen California communities?

3. Volunteering is the heart of the UC Master Food Preserver Program. With what volunteer groups have you been involved (e.g. schools, food banks, service clubs, youth groups, community organizations)? What types of activities did you do with these groups (e.g. food distribution, community organizing, leadership roles, translation services)?

4. UC Master Food Preserver Program volunteers are teachers and communicators. Please list your experience with any of these teaching/communication methods: public speaking, demonstrations, one-on-one consultations, and writing for print or social media. Please be sure to include both online and in-person communication experience.

5. Please describe any in-person or online food safety and food preservation education or experience you have, or share why you are interested in learning about food safety and preservation.

6. Like many organizations, the UC Master Food Preserver Program relies on technology to deliver its mission. Please describe your proficiency with common technologies such as e-mail, online meeting platforms (such as Zoom), using social media platforms, and so on. If applicable, please also list any advanced technology experience with website development and/or maintenance, creating videos, writing blogs, and managing social media platforms.

7. Please share any non-food skills you would bring to the program. Skills could include speaking and writing in languages other than English, experience with community organizing, graphic design, photography expertise, fundraising, and so on.

8. In order to reach all Californians, the UC Master Food Preserver Program is working to improve the cultural competency of volunteers and to improve outreach to more communities. Please share any work you have done, personally or professionally, to make yourself or an organization more inclusive to others.

9. Any other comments you want to add that we haven't addressed?

10. How did you learn about our UCCE Master Food Preserver Volunteer Training Program?

11. We offer two different tracks for the online portion of the training program: Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30pm) and Friday afternoons (2-4pm). In which track do you want to participate? ✻

Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30pm) Friday afternoons (2-4pm) Either time slot works for me

YOUR COMMITMENT

I wish to become a UCCE Master Food Preserver Volunteer.

12. UC Master Food Preserver Program students are required to complete a training course. Training dates, times, length, and format (e.g. online, in-person, hybrid) differ by county and are listed on your local program's website. Will you commit to attend all sessions? (Contact the local program coordinator if you know of schedule conflicts.)

Yes No

13. Can you consistently access the internet to complete your training and volunteer service?

Yes No

14. After the training, volunteers complete volunteer hours and continuing education hours annually (50 volunteer hours in the first year; 25 volunteer hours and 12 continuing education hours thereafter). Given your understanding of the program, how do you plan to meet these requirements?

15. If applying for the grant-funded UC MFP Online Program, do you understand that all educational outreach is conducted online and there are no in-person public events?

Yes N/A

16. The Master Food Preserver title and certification cannot be used for commercial purposes, such as advertising the title in conjunction with a business venture. Does this present a conflict for you?

Yes No

17. Applicants selected for UC Master Food Preserver Program training must complete a criminal background check (required of all UC agents and volunteers) through the California Department of Justice (DOJ). UC must notify the DOJ if prospective agents are recent residents of California. This information is not considered as part of your application package. How long have you been a resident of California?

18. I have read the Master Food Preserver Code of Conduct and agree.

Yes No

19. We often take photos during our events to use on social media and other marketing platforms. Please let us know if you give us permission to use your photos by completing our online photo release form.
Have you completed the form? (Your response to the form is stored separately from this application.)

Yes No

Demographic Information

The UC Master Food Preserver Program is open to all. We collect the following demographic information to know if we are reaching all community members. This portion of the application is voluntary and will be used for reporting purposes only. The categories listed are those required by UC and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Gender Identity

Ethnicity

Race