Media Contact: Catherine Dehdashti, U of M Extension, (612) 625-0237;
Debbie Botzek-Linn, U of M Extension, (320) 203-6056

U of M ‘Pickle Bill’ workshops scheduled for Feb., Mar. 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. (12/31/2007) —Workshops for those interested in learning about the requirements of the Minnesota “Pickle Bill” will be held in February and March in St. Cloud, Staples and Farmington. U of M Extension educators in food science and horticulture will conduct the workshops.

The “Pickle Bill” set safety requirements for the sale of home-processed and home-canned foods at farmers markets and community events. Only acid or acidified foods such as pickles, vegetables and fruits meet the requirements of this legislation.

The workshop “Peddling Your Pickles Safely?” will address food safety from harvest to process, kitchen sanitation, home processing methods and equipment, acid levels of produce, pH meters and testing and labeling.

Workshops will be held on February 11, 2008 at the St. Cloud Civic Center (10 S. 4th Ave, St. Cloud); February 27, 2008 at T Maxwell’s Restaurant (1300 2nd Ave. NE, Staples); and March 13, 2008 at Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center (4100 220th St. W, Farmington). All three workshops run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They are sponsored by the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (MFVGA), University of Minnesota Extension and the USDA-Risk Management Agency.

The registration fee is $40. For registration information visit the MFVGA’s website at www.mfvga.org. You may also call MFVGA at (763) 434-0400 or University of Minnesota Extension at (888) 241-4591.

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Source: Debbie Botzek-Linn, Extension educator in food science.

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URL: http:// www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2007/picklebillpressrelease.html This page was updated Dec. 31, 2007 .
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