Consumers Turn to Home Canning to Eat Local, Healthy, Homemade

DALEVILLE, Ind., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The resurgence in canning continues, as consumers increasingly emphasize a healthy, sustainable lifestyle and one that puts them in control over what they eat.  The iconic Ball® brand jar, Made in the USA for the past 125 years, is at the center of a growing trend that has more consumers eating fresh, locally grown foods, and food they prepare themselves.

In fact, a new survey released today by Jarden Home Brands, maker of Ball® brand preserving products, and conducted by Opinion Research, found that an overwhelming majority of consumers (93%) believe home-made food is healthier, and 88% agree fresh preserved foods made at home taste better.  The survey also found that many adults – nearly half (48%) of those surveyed – are canning or are interested in learning how to can.

"The increased interest in canning is indicative of a broader healthy lifestyle trend – consumers want more control over their food for a variety of reasons, from health to taste to safety," said Brenda Schmidt, Brand Manager for Fresh Preserving at Jarden Home Brands.  "With the gardening season upon us and summer's bounty of fresh produce just a few weeks away in many parts of the country, it's a great time to learn how to can your favorite foods."

Home canning enables consumers to preserve their favorite, locally grown foods all year long.  In addition, fresh preserving enables consumers to limit the amount of salt and sugar in the foods they prepare, and to cook with no preservatives.  Eco-conscious consumers will also appreciate that Ball® brand jars are made from high-quality glass, and come straight from America's heartland, Indiana USA.

Getting Started

In response to the growing interest in home canning, Jarden Home Brands is introducing the new Ball® Canning Discovery™ Kit, an easy and affordable way for newcomers to start canning.  The Ball® Canning Discovery™ Kit includes a canning rack with integrated jar lifter, three authentic Ball® pint jars with lids and bands, and a simple, three-step guide with 10 easy recipes.  The kit is the perfect size for small batch cooking or homes with limited kitchen space and, for about the price of two fast food lunches, will fit any budget.  Homemade salsas, pickles and sauces can be preserved with ease and enjoyed all year long, even during the winter months when fresh produce is difficult to find or expensive.

Free Online Resources

From novices to expert canners, consumers can look to Jarden Home Brands as the trusted resource for fresh preserving.  The website, FreshPreserving.com, offers a variety of tips and easy-to-make recipes for home canning.

Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of niche consumer products.  Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including:  Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Campingaz®, Coleman®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Volkl®, and Zoot®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, Fiona®, First  Alert®, First Essentials®, Forster®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®, Leslie-Locke®, Lillo®, Loew Cornell®, Mapa®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, Spontex® and Tigex®.  Headquartered in Rye, NY, Jarden has over 25,000 employees worldwide.  For more information, please visit www.jarden.com.

©2010 Hearthmark, LLC dba Jarden Home Brands. All Rights Reserved.

Distributed by Hearthmark, LLC dba Jarden Home Brands, Daleville, IN 47334.

Hearthmark, LLC is a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH). The Ball® (script logo) and Ball®, TMs Ball Corporation, used under license.

All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Jarden Home Brands