Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
Life

Some gardeners in a pickle over scarce canning supplies

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Sep, 2020 07:13 PM
  • Some gardeners in a pickle over scarce canning supplies

- It’s the time of year when gardeners are turning their ripe tomatoes into sauces and salsas and cucumbers into pickles. But a boom in gardening and preparing food at home during the coronavirus pandemic has led to a scarcity of supplies with which to preserve them.

From Maine and Vermont to Louisiana and West Virginia, gardeners have reported being in a pickle when it comes to finding certain sized glass jars, the special lids to safely seal them, or the bands with which to screw them on. They’ve gone from store to store and some have given in to paying higher prices online for certain precious so-called canning supplies.

“We have been everywhere,” said Vanessa Ware of Hurricane, West Virginia, who said she went to at least a half-dozen stores after running out of supplies for her tomatoes, peppers, corn and sauerkraut canning. She still had enough leftover jars and lids but not the bands, so she started looking — and looking. And a search of online retail sites proved to be frustrating due to price gouging.

The entire canning industry has seen an unprecedented demand for supplies as more consumers prepare meals at home during the pandemic, said a spokesperson for Newell Brands, owner of Ball, which produces Mason jars and other supplies.

“The demand has resulted in supply constraints, extended lead times and recently limited product availability at stores and online,” the spokesperson said. To replenish the stock as quickly as possible, the company said it’s increased glass production, found additional lid manufacturers and expanded its pack out locations.

The scarcity didn’t surprise Elizabeth Andress, project director for the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

“There seem to be more people canning than ever before -- from the much higher number of inquiries coming into the National Center for help than in the past, and from the large number of participants I hear are attending virtual food preservation classes that Extension educators around the country have been offering," said Andress, a professor and Extension food safety specialist at the University of Georgia.

More people put in gardens or expanded their existing plots this spring out of initial fears of a possible food shortage or apprehension about going to the grocery store during the pandemic.

The master garden helpline at the University of Vermont Extension has received more than 500 emails and phone calls since mid-March from new gardeners, those who are expanding their gardens or seeking help with plant disease issues, a jump from previous years, said Lisa Chouinard, the helpline assistant.

“I do believe this is due to COVID as more people are wanting to grow their own food, as well as provide food for those who are in need,” she said by email.

Ware, in West Virginia, was finally able to find some bands for her canning. Her mother-in-law, two hours away, brought them to her. She’s since been able to get more, but only after paying extra because the bands were sold in a package of 12 with the jars and lids, which she didn’t need.

“We don’t need all those jars when we already had them,” she said.

MORE Life ARTICLES

VIRUS DIARY: One midnight moment in Taiwan's virus battle

VIRUS DIARY: One midnight moment in Taiwan's virus battle
It was near midnight. My taxi just pulled into the parking lot where I was greeted by three masked people. They were dressed in heavy protective gear, goggles, gloves, face mask and medical gowns.

VIRUS DIARY: One midnight moment in Taiwan's virus battle

'Monkey Beach' to open Vancouver film fest

'Monkey Beach' to open Vancouver film fest
The adaptation of Eden Robinson's novel is among more than 100 feature films and events in the festival, which runs Sept. 24-Oct. 7.

'Monkey Beach' to open Vancouver film fest

Top stars at Venice Film Fest praise gender-neutral prizes

Top stars at Venice Film Fest praise gender-neutral prizes
Organizers of the Berlin International Film Festival announced last month that they would stop awarding separate acting prizes to men and women starting next year.

Top stars at Venice Film Fest praise gender-neutral prizes

No more splish-splash at Aquaboggan, which abruptly closed

No more splish-splash at Aquaboggan, which abruptly closed
Aquaboggan officials said the water park in Saco should be treated the same as beaches and other open spaces.

No more splish-splash at Aquaboggan, which abruptly closed

JK Rowling returns award from group linked to Kennedy family

JK Rowling returns award from group linked to Kennedy family
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling says she is returning an award from a human rights group linked to the Kennedy family after the president of the organization criticized her comments about transgender issues.

JK Rowling returns award from group linked to Kennedy family

No sweat: Dick's crushes 2Q as consumers focus on fitness

No sweat: Dick's crushes 2Q as consumers focus on fitness
At home workouts and outdoor athletic activities are shaping up to be good business for Dick's Sporting Goods.

No sweat: Dick's crushes 2Q as consumers focus on fitness

PrevNext