Pickle Bill Workshops
1/10/2008 9:05 AMPeddling Your Pickles Safely?
A series of two workshops for those interested in learning about the basic requirements of the Minnesota “Pickle Bill” legislation related to the sale of home processed and canned foods at farmers’ markets or community events.
In 2004 the Minnesota Legislature passed the “Pickle Bill.” This legislation requires home-processed and home-canned foods intended for sale at farmers’ markets or community events consist of either an acid food or an acidified food and only applies to pickles, vegetables or fruits.
The “Peddling Your Pickles Safely?” workshop will address:
• Pickle Bill legislation
• Home-canned foods in the pickle bill
• Food safety from harvest to process
• Sanitation—How clean is your kitchen?
• Home processing and equipment
• Acid levels of produce/adding acid
• Selecting and using pH meters
• Product labeling and documentation
“Peddling Your Pickles Safely?” Agenda
9:00 Registration and refreshments
9:30 Welcome and Workshop
Noon Lunch (included with registration)
12:45 Workshop
3:30 Closing
February 11, 2008 — St. Cloud St. Cloud Civic Center
February 27, 2008 — Staples, T Maxwell’s Restaurant
March 13, 2008 — Farmington, Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center
All workshop times: 9:30am - 3:30pm
Directions to Workshops:
St. Cloud: St. Cloud Civic Center, 10 South 4th Ave.
From Hwy 23 turn North on 4th Ave. The Civic Center will be on your right, next to the Kelly Inn.
Staples: T Maxwell’s Restaurant, 1300 2nd Ave. NE
Hwy 10 to 12th St NE and go north. Parking lot on right just after turn.
Farmington: Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W
Take Hwy 77 / Cedar Ave. to Hwy 50 east to Denmark Ave. South on Denmark to 220th St.
and turn left.
Instructors are University of Minnesota Regional Extension Educators:
Food Science – Deb Botzek-Linn; Carol Ann Burtness; Lou Ann Jopp
Horticulture – Terry Nennich
Food Safety Specialist – Dr. Joellen Feirtag
Registration fee per person: $40
Pre-registration requested by:
Feb. 4 for Feb. 11th St Cloud
Feb. 20 for Feb. 27th Staples
March 6 for March 13th Farmington
To register, contact:
Marilyn Johnson
763-434-0400
mfvga@msn.com
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Two new workshops offered in 2008, both will be held in Waite Park, MN (near St. Cloud):
Making and Marketing Jams & Jellies -- March 26, 2008
A workshop on the safe home production of quality jams and jellies for farmers’ markets and community events. The workshop will address:
- Operational guidelines for the sale of jams and jellies
- Producing a quality product
- Food safety from harvest to process
- Home processing and equipment
- Labeling and documentation
- Cleanliness and sanitation
Registration fee = $20 per person; due by March 19, 2008.
Peddling Your Pickles Safely II -- July 14, 2008
An advanced workshop with in-depth information on the home production and marketing of acidified foods. Registration fee = $25 per person; due by July 7, 2008.
Contact Marilyn Johnson of the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association:
Phone: 763-434-0400
Fax: 763-413-9585
E-mail: info@mfvga.org
These workshops are sponsored by the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, the USDA Risk Management Agency, and University of Minnesota Extension.
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