The Cranbrook Food Action Committee and Wildsight Kimberley/Cranbrook will be hosting the first session ‘Can Your Tomatoes!’ of their three part Fall Kitchen Workshop Series.

Each workshop will run from 7-9 p.m., with Can Your Tomatoes offered on September 22 at McKim Middle School in Kimberley and September 24 at the Community Connections Society Kitchen in Cranbrook.

Canning is putting the best of summer harvest into jars and enjoying it all year long. There is nothing better than fresh salsa, but coming a very close second is canned salsa made with love and ingredients harvested at the prime of the season. Cracking open a jar on a freezing cold winter night unleashes the taste of sun ripened tomatoes and spicy peppers reminiscent of warmer September days.

Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. The process dates back as far as 1806, and many will recollect fond memories of a grandmother spending hours canning, resulting in pantries full of jars upon jars of deliciousness. Canning is cost effective, allowing anyone to take advantage of discounted in-season produce, and provides a higher degree of food security. When using locally available produce, it can even decrease society’s carbon footprint.

Sophie Larson, coordinator for the Cranbrook Food Action Committee, points out that “because canning is frequently done in large batches, it can sometimes be a daunting task, but in a larger group setting we add a little fun and community into those jars!”

The workshop will begin with basic canning techniques to ensure safety, and then move into salsa and ketchup creation as a group. All the produce used in this workshop will be local, and the group will decide how spicy the salsa should become. At the end of the night, finished products will be divided for each participant to take home and enjoy. Then, Sophie says with a smirk, “it’s just a waiting game to see how long you can go before cracking open that first jar. And I warn you; once you taste homemade you will never want to go back.”

This workshop will be appropriate for beginner canners or experienced individuals who just want to have fun making salsa and ketchup in a social setting. The cost of the workshop is $25 for Wildsight Members, and $30 for non-members, with all materials included. There is also a discounted rate if you register for all three fall kitchen workshops which include cheese making and cooking with kale. If cost is a barrier, volunteer bursaries are available to cover registration.

For more information or to register visit: https://www.wildsight.ca/kitchenworkshops, or call 250-422-3579.

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