The Wilmington morning star., 1946-01-21
FOOD PRODUCTION
BATTLE SUCCEEDS
BY Mrs. Mary L. McAllister
N. C.. State College

| I've W St0tc NUIlCSC
| North Carolina homemakers are
justified in their feelings Of pride
in having so ably met the chal
lenge of food shortages during the
war years. We faced the problem
(maybe fused some about the
ir convenience and problems Of
f. l rationing), but we rolled ur
our sleeves and went to work tc
produce and preserve the family
food supply. Valuable experiences
were gained; we learned that it is
foolish to spend time, labor, ano
money And make mistakes in try
ing to save our food by following
Incorrect methods or by use Of
improper equipment. We learned
the desirability of the quality OF
home produced and preserved
/ fc Is. Also, that they pay di.
vidends in better nutrition, cash
savings, and supply the protective
v..tamins and minerals necessary
for good health.
In 1916, home food production
and preservation must be an inn
portant part of every farm fam
ily's plans if they are to have sat
isfactory year-round diets. Farm
families have the land, the skill,
and the equinro ent to grow their
own food. They should provide
themselves with the proper equip.
ment and knowledge for saving
foods for the winter months. The
family who does this is the family
who plans a good food produc-
ton and preservation program
early in the year. January is a
good month to sit down with the
family and take inventory and
make plans for the New Year.
A written plan for the family
food production and preservation
program is a challenge to carry
through. It also affords means
of easy and quick checking on
progress and can be used as the
basis for future plans. The fol
lowing may help you in making
your plans:
List the foods you can grow and
preserve at home, keeping in mind
family likes and dislikes, Their
estimate the amounts OF each
your family will consume during
the months when fresh products
are not available. To be physically
fit, nutrition experts tell us that
North Carolina family of five
persons will require 1870 quarts Of
vegetables, 100 quarts Of fruit, Sc
quarts of meat, quarts each Of
kraut pickle, relish, jelly, 10
quarts each preserves and jam, SC
pounds dried vegetables, and &C
pounds dried fruits to last through
the winter and spring months. With
these quantities in mind, it Is not
difficult to plan for a variety Of
foods which will provide the min
erals and vitamins essential for
health. In determining the amount
of any one food to be saved, think
of the number times in one week
you can serve the food you have
your family really enjoy it The
variety of recipes you really use
in preparing each of the foods or
your plan should be carefully con-
sidered as a means of overcoming
monotony in the diet and food
waste.
After the guide as to quantity
has been made, decide on the pre-.
servation methods your family
can use. Canning is the first me.
thod we usually think of for saving
foods, but there are other methods
that should be used in order to
provide variety in texture and
flavor. Freezing is fast becoming
an important method of food pre-
servation and every family having
access to freezing facilities should
plan for maximum use of their
locker space. Other methods that
can be used are drylng or detly,
dration, brining, and storage.
In writing your plan, determine
the quantity of food to be saved
by each preservation method you
use, keeping in mind the tota.
amount of food specified above fol-
the family Of five.
In your planning, give careful
consideration to equipment and gel
it assembled and in good working
condition before the busy season
for preserving foods arrives. Have
the gauge on your pressure can.
ner checked for accuracy, be sure
the. petcock and safety valve or
the Gamer are clean. and order
necessary repair parts. Check
your supply of glass jars to deter
mine whether or not new ones mus
be purchased and examine empty
Jars for cracks and Clipped places.
Wash the empty jars, wrap and
store them so time will be saved
when canning actually begins.
Check your supply of jar lids and
buy what you will need for, the
years canning. Buy moisture, va
por proof containers for packaging
the foods you plan to freeze. Check
on your dehydration equipment
and get it into good working con-
dition. Be sure boiling water bath
Gamer is available and in gooe
condition so some of the earliest
fruits can be saved.
Being sure your family will grow
and preserve it's own food supply
is just a matter of practical plan
ming, says Mrs. w. A. Shipping,
Fhome demonstration club membel
Of Rowan County. In addition to thu