North Central Food Safety Extension Network (NCFSEN)

NCFSEN logo with jars of canned food and a map of the Midwest

two jars of salsa the pressure reading on a pressure cooker jars of dehydrated vegetables and fruits jars of preserved vegetables

The North Central Food Safety Extension Network (NCFSEN) began with representatives from several states in the North Central Region in 2016 during a meeting convened by Extension program leaders held in Chicago, IL. Since that time, the network has grown to include representatives from all 12 states in the region.

This website provides resource links to the affiliated states, an impact statement, a link to the regional food preservation e-newsletter subscription, outreach materials and journal articles published by the group.

North Central Region Food Preservation Resources

Journal Articles

Garden-Robinson, Julie; West, Rebecca; Nwadike, Londa; Blakeslee, Karen; and Coleman, Shannon M. (2022). "Best practices for urban local food entrepreneurs and building regional Extension networks," Urban Food Systems Symposium.

Organizing Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Groups Around a Common Topic: Lessons Learned and Best Practices (Journal of the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences, Volume 16, 2021, page 93)

Measuring the Regional Impact of Extension Home Food Preservation Education Using Standardized Evaluation Tools (Journal of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences)

Publications

Consumer Food Safety

Food Safety in Blessing Boxes

Home Food Preservation

Dial Canner Testing Report 2023
Canner Gauge Check labels

Jar It Right!

Oops! Remaking Jams and Jellies

Play It Safe! Safe Changes and Substitutions to Tested Canning Recipes

Pressure Can It Right

Put a Lid On It

Steam Can It Right

Food Safety for Entrepreneurs
Watch the entire playlist or find the individual videos below.

Home Kitchen Basics Webinar on Home Kitchen Basics
Labeling Basics Webinar on Labeling Basics
Cleaning and Sanitizing Basics Webinar on Cleaning and Sanitizing Basics
(these three documents are all part of the same set, so the document links will take you to the same website where you can download each of them.)

Food Safety Best Practices for Local Food Entrepreneurs
Spanish Version- Mejores Prácticas de Inocuidad Alimentaria para Emprendedores Locales de la Industria de Alimentos

Working Collaboratively

This 3-publication “Working Regionally” set of Extension publications provides information about forming and sustaining a food safety regional group based on published research conducted by the regional group.

Working Regionally: Getting Started (Part 1)
Video
Working Regionally: Getting Organized (Part 2)
Video
Working Regionally: Getting Together (Part 3)
Video

Please provide your feedback to these videos and resources.

Presentations

Responding to Consumers During a Pandemic: Food Safety and Program Delivery - Partnership for Food Safety Education Conference, 2021

Regional Teamwork and Best Practices - National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, 2021

Tools of the Trade: Regional Food Preservation Evaluation Using Standardized Evaluation Tools: Phase 2 Process and Results, National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, 2020

Safe Produce for Food Pantries: Regional Impact in Food Safety Education, International Association for Food Protection, 2020 virtual Conference

Enhanced Food Safety Program Impact Using a Regional Approach to Program Evaluation - Presentation National Food Safety Outreach Conference, 2019

jars of salsa with someone attaching a lid ladling jelly into a jar judges at the state fair, surrounded by jelly glass jars of pickle relish four jars in a water bath