WV Farm Bureau Magazine August 2014 | Page 27

Four canning tips for great jams and jellies 1. Pick ’em right When picking berries, keep in mind these fruits have high water content and are very fragile. So, use smaller containers when picking them so the berries do not get crushed under their own weight. 2. Rinse, don’t soak Due to their fragile nature, the berries should be lightly “rinsed” to remove surface dirt. Do not allow them to sit in water for very long because they tend to take on more water and will become mushy. 3. Firm and ripe When selecting berries for jellie