Make jams, jelly, applesauce, pickles, salsa, and canned fruit and veggies for less
Perhaps it is not intuitive, but you don't always save money by going to a pick your own farm and canning the produce you get. Like everything else these
days, you have to be smart about it and know the inside tips and tricks.
Here they are:
Jars - one of the biggest costs of come canning (after having the basic equipment like the canner) is the canning jars. Look at
the cost breakdown near the bottom of the applesauce making page and you will see that jars can be 1/3 to 1/2 of
the total cost. They have almost doubled in price since 2020. 12 jars (of any size used to sell for about $7 or $8. So, look for used jars at
garage sales, ebay, Facebook local marketplace and craig's list. But by far the simplest way to save on quart sized jars is buy Classico brand
spaghetti sauce. It comes in almost quart-sized jars the fit the standard Ball type ring and lids perfectly. And they are made of
very thick walled glass. I've never had one break, in decades! Do NOT use mayonnaise jars. The glass in these jars is You can get Classico brand
spaghetti sauce everywhere: both Costco and Sam's Club sell it, as does every grocery store.
Get your jars back - I put a label on every jar I give away to friends and family that (of course) tells what's in it) but also
asks them to return the jar to me so I can use it again!
Go to no frills PYO farms - Avoid the ones with jumping pillow, trains, etc. They're selling an amusement park like experience.
Find farms that have nothing but fields or orchards and maybe a porta-potty.They almost always charge less.
Ask if they have "seconds" for canning - Every farmer will understand what this means. And for them it is a way to move produce they
might otherwise have to throw out.
Large Farmer Markets and Roadside Stands - Skip the Saturday boutique farmer's markets - they are always the highest price, Instead,
look for large distribution farm markets and produce stands, places where restaurants go to get their produce. An example of this is the
Atlanta State Farmer's Market in Forest Park, GA.
Get supplies in bulk - Pectin for jam, sugar, the fruit or veg itself, all are typicallly lower priced when you buy a larger
quantity. ALways ask!