Home canning can provide quality, nutritious food for your family and can be a satisfying and rewarding experience. When it comes to canning information, lots of people are sharing what they learned from their grandmother, a neighbor, or the Internet. While there may be some using approved methods, many of these sources can be downright unsafe.

In order to preserve food safely and for the best quality product, it is important to follow the most current research-based tested recipes. Whether you have canned for many years or would like to try canning for the first time, you can learn the most up-to-date information on home canning at the upcoming Penn State Cooperative Extension workshops.

The following workshops will be held this summer:

n July 23: From 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Caplan’s, 12607 Route 19, Waterford

n July 28: From 9:30 a.m. to noon at Crawford County Conservation District, Woodcock Creek Nature Center, 21742 German Road, Meadville.

n Aug. 13: From 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Caplan’s, 12607 Route 19, Waterford.

n Aug. 19: From 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Crawford County Cooperative Extension, 13400 Dunham Road, Suite A, Meadville.

The cost of the workshop is $10 per person. Prepaid registration is required. For a registration brochure, visit www.mercer.extension.psu.edu. Click on “2009 Home Canning Workshops” on the lower left hand corner. You can also call (724) 662-3141 or (814) 825-0900 for a registration brochure or to register over the phone.