Click here to learn how to can your own fresh homemade salsa.

As we put the summer behind us and begin making the last picks in our gardens, there is a new trend finding it’s way into home canning.

New trend? Isn’t canning for grannies?

Not anymore. Here at the Food Channel, we show you how canning can be hip, quick and easy while you capture the fresh-picked flavor right off the stem, into the jar, to enjoy all year long.

In recent years, canning has again become a popular among younger generations. In fact, some professionals in the business estimate that more than half of the canning population is under the age of 45.

Canning at home provides not only good-tasting food, but also the added money-saving and health benefits. By canning your homegrown fruits and vegetables, you’re able to cut your grocery bill and can also avoid worrying about your food being loaded with pesticides or infested with bacteria. Worried about the amount of sodium food manufacturers add to cans of vegetables you buy at the store? Canning at home puts you in control.

Use Fresh Ingredients and Quality Tools

One of the secrets of quality canning: use top-notch ingredients. If you by chance grew some dill leaves or garlic cloves this summer, use them to give flavor in your canning instead of relying on packaged alternatives.

View our ‘How to Make Dill Pickles’ home canning video with Allison Langford

If growing fresh herbs and spices won’t happen until next season, spend a few extra dollars in the produce section of the grocery store or at the farmers market to get fresh cloves or basil leaves.

As the fall months are sneaking into full swing, it’s time to harvest your final summer picking. In the event you find canning to be both fun and delicious, one idea for all of the extra fruit and vegetables lying around is to lace up a canned jar of fruits or vegetables with a festive ribbon, and within a minute or two, you have a unique fall gift to pass along to a friend, coworker or client.

So, are you ready to roll up the sleeves to get started? Be sure to check out our quick ‘How to Make Dill Pickles’ video to see how easy canning can be.

Home Canning Notes & Tips:

• Canning is a relative inexpensive hobby. You just need a large stockpot, sterilized glass jars and a can lifter

• Consider becoming active in canning social networking outlets. Twitter sites such as Canvolution™ can offer you additional ideas, advice for your new hobby, as well as the chance to meet other aspiring canners

• Store your canned produce in Ball or Mason jars or something similar. It’s important that your jars not be susceptible to breaking or cracking under pressure or heat

• Use your canned food within one year

• Preserving your own food often provides a sense of accomplishment

• Using food from your own garden provide a peace of mind when it comes to food safety control. Think about no longer having to worry so much about tomato, cilantro or spinach bacteria outbreaks

• Investment professionals consider canning one way to save money on food costs

• While canning may be fun and easy, it’s still important to make sure you do it properly to kill any microorganisms that could become harmful overtime if not cooked thoroughly

• Important health-wise benefit: Do-it-yourself canning puts you in charge in how much sodium you add to your canned produce

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