Food, health and nutrition

Food safety 101

Resources to produce, preserve and distribute foods safely in Minnesota.

Safe food temperatures

The temperature danger zone is when most foodborne illnesses causing microorganisms to multiply rapidly

Norovirus cleanup

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces immediately after a vomiting or diarrhea event is critical to removing and destroying norovirus.

Sanitizing food contact surfaces

Learn the five steps of an effective sanitation routine to keep your equipment and food contact surfaces safe.

Washing fresh fruits and vegetables

Washing produce before preparing and eating can remove bacteria that may cause foodborne illness.

How to preserve your own food

Step-by-step guides for preserving and storing food safely at home, including canning, drying, fermenting, freezing, and pickling.

Take a class: Preserving food at home

Our Master Gardener Food Preservation Consultant volunteers offer online classes and in-person workshops throughout Minnesota.

Cooking safely for a crowd

Cooking for a large number of people can be rewarding as you showcase your favorite recipes and culinary talent; however, it can also be risky if you are not used to handling a large volume of food. 

Cottage food safety in Minnesota

The Cottage Food Law allows individuals in Minnesota to make and sell certain non-potentially hazardous food in a home or commercial kitchen without a license.

Serve It Up Safely

The Serve It Up Safely online course is a convenient, effective way to meet the State of Minnesota's continuing education requirement to renew your certified food protection manager certification.

Back-to-School: Food safety training

Start the school year with Extension-led food safety training for your school food service workers.

Wearing single-use disposable gloves safely

If used incorrectly, single-use disposable gloves can be a source of cross-contamination

Protecting health for older adults

Get tips for eating healthy and staying active to help you live a longer, healthier life.

Health care directive workshop

Arrange for us to come and teach on this important topic. Excellent resource for employee groups, community organizations, and more.

How to support your aging parents

Follow these strategies and tips to help your family cope when faced with problems and decisions related to long term care.

Minnesota Health Care Directive Planning Toolkit

Write down your wishes for your care in a health care directive.

SuperShelf: Transforming food shelves

Reducing stigma and promoting shopper choice by improving the layout of food shelves across Minnesota.

Farm to school in Minnesota

Farm to school practices connect schools with fresh and healthy food grown or raised by Minnesota farmers.

Rural grocery stores

Small-town grocery stores are the heart of rural Minnesota communities.

Buying animals for meat processing

There are several things to think about before buying a quarter, half, or whole animal for your freezer.

COMET: Changing our mental and emotional trajectory

A two-hour training that will teach you how to support others who may seem sad, anxious, distracted, or depressed.

What is mental health?

Learn about mental health interventions, how to begin conversations about mental well-being, and find resources for professionals.

Stress and change

Tips, online courses and resources for understanding and coping with stress.

Trauma and healing

Healthy and fit on the go

Tip sheets to help keep you and your family healthy and fit when you're on the go.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program teaches low-income families about healthy foods and being physically active.

Rusty's Cooking Club

Create special memories in the kitchen with this fun club designed for preschool-aged children and their parents, grandparents and caregivers.

Cooking Matters Minnesota

Cooking Matters offer practical nutrition information, hands-on food preparation, and food budgeting and shopping.

Start Strong: Cooking, Feeding and More

Start Strong is hands-on nutrition education for family childcare providers to help serve healthy food.

Power of Produce (PoP) Club

Get all the materials to successfully start a Power of Produce (PoP) Club at your local farmers market.

One Vegetable, One Community

Learn more about starting a garden to provide fresh vegetables to your community.