A group of Colorado State University faculty and Extension specialists have created a free food preservation app called Preserve Smart. Because they can.
CSU Extension uses a multi-faceted approach to the challenge of providing up-to-date food preservation information to residents across the state via website materials, in-person classes, trained volunteers and, now, the Preserve Smart app.
Team approach
Extension Specialist Elisa Shackelton and CSU Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Marisa Bunning of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition first had the idea for a food preservation app back in 2011. With the help of Derek Stegelman, College of Health and Human Sciences assistant director of IT for application development; Edie McSherry, a Larimer County Extension agent; and a team of volunteers from across Colorado, the food preservation app was launched this spring.
“Overall, CSU Extension has seen a rise in website viewers using mobile devices,” said Shackelton. “But our online resources aren’t mobile-responsive, so we wanted to incorporate our food preservation fact sheet information into the app to meet that need.”
The app focuses on food preservation methods and basics. Users can choose whether they want to preserve fruits or vegetables, and then select their particular type of produce. Preservation options vary depending on the type of produce, but include freezing, canning, drying and making spreadable preserves, like jams and jellies.
Elevation matters
Preserve Smart differs from any food preservation magazine or book because it allows users to set their elevation before starting the preservation process. Elevation needs to be taken into account when canning, especially in Colorado and other high elevation locations, because if not done correctly, it can be a serious health threat.
“Canning can be dangerous if tested methods are not followed, and this is especially true in Colorado,” said Bunning, “because adjustments often need to be made for elevation. Many canning recipes available to the public do not account for higher elevation, and that can lead to food spoilage or even contamination with botulism toxin. Although it is critically important to adjust for elevation to ensure the temperature is adequate to destroy bacterial spores, this is a science lesson that is not very well-known.”
The app has a feature on its home page that allows users to enter their elevation, and when they visit the recipe, processing times are automatically adjusted to fit their pre-set elevation.
“In Colorado, a lot of people don’t know that their elevation matters, or don’t know the elevation where they live,” Shackelton said. “Anything above 3,000 feet is considered ‘high altitude,’ and that’s all of Colorado.”
The app is available for Apple and Android devices, and a mobile-responsive online version can also be found at https://apps.chhs.colostate.edu/preservesmart/.
For more information, contact your local Extension Office including Baca County at 719-523-6971; Bent County at 719-456-0764; Cheyenne County at 719-767-5716; Crowley County at 719-267-5243; Kiowa County at 719-438-5321; Otero County at 719-254-7608; and Prowers County at 719-336-7734 or your local health department. Find us on the web at http://www.extension.colostate.edu/SEA.