International Can-It-Forward Day is observed on August 1 every year. The festive occasion honours canning as a means of preserving local produce and making it more accessible to people.
Whether you have a bushel of turnips or a mountain of mushrooms, you should begin your canning journey on International Can-It-Forward Day.
The background of International Can-It Forward Day
Canning was created as a result of a concerted effort by the French government, which offered a substantial cash prize to whoever could establish a method for preserving food in large quantities. The discovery that food cooked in a container would not spoil marked the beginning of canning, and glass jars were used to preserve food.
The glass vessels evolved into tin cans over time. Initially, the labor-intensive and time-consuming process made canning quite costly. Only those with the financial means to purchase costly glass jars and metal tins would be able to preserve their produce. Nonetheless, the preservation method was advantageous, particularly for the military, which required supplies that could last for extended periods.
Prior to the mechanisation of the canning process, European middle-class households viewed canning as a novelty. It wasn’t until the process was mechanised that canning became a popular method of preserving food. Soon, canned food spread from Europe to the United States, and while it was popular during wartime, it was also a convenient and inexpensive way to maintain a variety of foods readily available.
Several home canning instruments and products are now readily available, making home canning accessible to the average backyard gardener and food enthusiast. With the increasing popularity of home canning, companies that manufacture canning equipment began to actively promote fresh canning and establish International Can-It-Forward Day.
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Activities on International Can-It-Forward Day
Commence canning produce
International Can-It-Forward Day is the ideal time to start canning if you’ve been considering it for a while. Begin by viewing videos and blog posts on the subject. Apply your newly acquired knowledge to your fresh produce next.
Share preserves recipes
If you’ve been canning for an extended period of time, you probably have your own recipes. On International Can-It-Forward Day, share your exclusive recipes with everyone.
Construct a preserving community.
Canning is an excellent group activity. Meet your neighbours, trade recipes and fresh produce from your respective gardens, and begin preserving together.
5 SURPRISE-INVOKING FACTS ABOUT CANNING
With appropriate storage, freeze-dried canned produce has been found to be edible for over thirty years.
When canning was still expensive in the early 1800s, middle-class households viewed it as a novelty and a status symbol.
The use of lead-lined cans poisoned many individuals, primarily soldiers, who consumed canned produce.
To alleviate the complaints of soldiers during World War I and boost morale, the quality of canned foods was enhanced.
The nutritional value of canned food is typically higher than that of food preserved in other methods, such as freezing.
INTERNATIONAL CAN-IT FORWARD DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 1 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | August 1 | Thursday |
| 2025 | August 1 | Friday |
| 2026 | August 1 | Saturday |
| 2027 | August 1 | Sunday |
