Late summer means harvest time in Minnesota gardens!  You can harvest vegetables and more at peak ripeness, but most things can only be stored fresh for a short period of time even in perfect conditions.   You have eaten your fill, but the garden keeps on giving so if you have the time and the inclination you can harvest more of your garden and preserve it to enjoy long after the growing season has passed.

Options for preserving fruits, vegetables, and herbs include freezing, drying, canning, pickling, and more.  Each option has its benefits and drawbacks and some options are better for preserving different types of food.  The University of Minnesota Extension has a series of short, informative food preservation videos to get you the information you need to safely preserve your vegetables, sauces, jams, and salsas to enjoy later.

Photo Credit: University of Minnesota Extension (1)