Experts from the West Virginia University Extension Service and West Virginia Department of Agriculture are offering a one-day, hands-on workshop for those interested in how to produce and market dried fruit products.

The workshop takes place Tuesday, July 8 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County WVU Extension office on Wiltshire Road in Kearneysville.

“This workshop can help producers learn how to dry fruit as an additional way to market it, which extends the effective season of which they can sell their goods,” said WVU Extension Jefferson County Families and Health Agent Judy Matlick. “However, the training can also help any individual who is just curious about how to safely and properly prepare dried fruit for home use.”

Pre-registration is required and is due by Thursday, July 3. The cost is $15 and includes all necessary materials and lunch. For registration information, contact April Blaker at 304-728-7413, ext. 0 or alblaker@mail.wvu.edu.

The workshop is taught by experienced food processing experts and will address what products are viable for drying, the processes involved, ingredients, product safety, and proper storage and handling.

Instructors include food preservation and marketing specialists from WVU Extension Service and the Department of Agriculture. A representative of the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health will explain what inspectors look for when inspecting commercial kitchens, regulations when producing for market, and the need for safe food handling practices in a business.

The program is sponsored by the WVU Extension Service with funding from National Science Foundation, Branch Banking and Trust company and WVU Public Service Grant Award P-14-006.

For more information on food safety and preservation, visit fh.ext.wvu.edu/food_safety, or contact your local county office of the WVU Extension Service.

-WVU-

zl/06/11/14

CONTACT: Cassie Waugh, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Waugh@mail.wvu.edu

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