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2026 UC Master Food Preserver Training Program Application

Become a UC Master Food Preserver!

The UC Master Food Preserver Program shares research-based information about home food safety and preservation through classes, media, and outreach events led by our certified volunteers. Ready to join us?

Application Instructions

The application deadline has passed.

Before you submit an application, please contact your program's coordinator (using our County Staff List) to see whether your program is still actively recruiting.

You will be asked to acknowledge the Code of Conduct. You will sign this after certification.
Review and complete the Photo Model Release form, as you will confirm your response in the application.
You will receive an email copy of your application for your records.

Participating Counties

The following programs are participating in 2026 statewide hybrid training, which is a combination of Zoom classes and in-person labs in the program's home county. If your county is not listed, please visit their website to see if they are conducting a local volunteer training program.

Amador/Calaveras/Tuolumne
Fresno/Madera/Merced
Inyo/Mono
Mariposa- still accepting applications
Sacramento
San Bernardino/Riverside - still accepting applications
San Diego- not accepting applications
San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara
San Mateo/San Francisco
Solano/Yolo- not accepting applications
Online Delivery Program (only online classes, no in-person public events, applicants accepted from counties without a local program)- not accepting applications

Residents in the following counties are eligible to select the Online Delivery Program: Alameda, Alpine, Butte, Contra Costa, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Lake, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, or Ventura.

Any other CA counties not listed are not participating in the hybrid statewide new volunteer training program.

✻ = Required

UC Master Food Preserver Program you are pursuing: ✻

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):

I either attended the September 18 training information session live or have watched the recording.

Yes     No

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. List your experience with any of these teaching/communication methods: public speaking, demonstrations, one-on-one consultations, and writing for print or social media. Be sure to include both online and in-person communication experiences.

5. 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.

6a. Which Zoom features do you feel confident using? (select all that apply)

Raising/lowering hand Changing Zoom display name Turning on/off audio & video Entering/exiting breakout rooms I have no experience using Zoom

6b. Which software tools do you feel confident using? (select all that apply)

Word processing (e.g. Microsoft Word Google Docs) Presentation software (e.g. PowerPoint Google Slides) Online collaborative tools (e.g. Google Docs Box) I have limited experience using these tools

6c. The UC Master Food Preserver Program relies on technology for classes, communication, and outreach. Describe your general comfort level with common tools (email, online meetings, document sharing, social media). If you have additional experience with advanced tools (e.g., website management, video creation, online publishing tools, or social media administration), please include that as well.

7. 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). Volunteering include actively participating in business meetings or planning meetings as well as educational outreach activities.
Given your understanding of the program, how do you plan to meet these requirements?

15. If applying for the UC MFP Online Delivery Program, click each of the buttons to show your understanding of the requirement. The recording of the program overview is/will be on the Online Delivery Program's website.

I attended (or will attend) the Online Delivery Program overview session or watched the recording I understand that all educational outreach is conducted online and there are no in-person public events

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. For non-Master Gardener and 4-H Volunteer Applicants: Applicants selected for UC Master Food Preserver Program training must complete a criminal background check (required of all UC agents and new 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 to it. Then, let's check your memory about what you read. Which is the first statement in the "Your Rights" section?

Yes I read the Code of Conduct and agree to its contents No I didn't read it - will do so now so I can answer the second part of this question! To be in an environment free from harassment To have access to current program materials To be respected by program personnel

19. We often take photos during our events to use on social media and other marketing platforms. Please complete our online photo release form to let us know if we have permission to use photos that may include you. 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

Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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