Food Preservation Classes Build Skills and Small Businesses in Cortez

Many Cortez residents have been taking cooking classes offered through local organizations, but no certified food preservation safety training is available locally. After hearing from residents that training would help them safely preserve food for their families and launch cottage industry businesses, one Montezuma County extension specialist reached out to LOR with an idea. LOR’s funding will help Montezuma County CSU Extension launch master classes to certify 15 to 20 Cortez residents in food preservation for both personal and public consumption. The training will open doors for participants to start small canning businesses, while the equipment—including a freeze-drying machine and dehydrators—will become community assets available for ongoing use.