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Pro Tips for Saving Money Canning Produce This Spring and Summer

May 14, 2025

As spring produce begins to pop and summer’s bounty looms on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about preserving the season’s flavors through home canning. Whether you’re new to canning or looking to up your game this year, now is the perfect time to prepare. Canning is one of the most satisfying ways to extend the life of your local harvest, reduce waste, and save money — all while filling your pantry with vibrant, homemade goods.

Here are three tried-and-true tips to help you can like a pro this season — without breaking the bank.

1. Buy in Bulk – and Don’t Be Shy About Asking for a Deal

One of the best ways to save money on produce is to talk directly to your local farmers about bulk purchases. If you’re planning to can tomato sauce, peach jam, or pickled green beans, buying in volume is the way to go.

Farmers often offer a discount when you commit to larger quantities. The key is to ask! Many small farms are happy to sell you a full case, crate, or even a bushel at a reduced rate — especially during peak harvest, when their fields are overflowing. This helps them move product quickly and gives you more produce to preserve.

Tip: Visit your local farmers market early, or better yet, reach out to farmers ahead of market day. If you know you want 20 pounds of cucumbers for pickling, a farmer will appreciate the heads-up and may even offer a better deal. If you have a large order, understand it may not be ready immediately so try to plan ahead an preorder with your favorite farmer.

2. Ask for 'Seconds' — They’re Perfect for Preserving

In the farming world, “seconds” are fruits and veggies that may be a little bruised, oddly shaped, or just not visually perfect enough for display — but they’re still absolutely delicious. If you’re cooking your produce down into sauce, jam, salsa, or purée, seconds are ideal.

Not only are you saving money, but you’re helping reduce food waste by putting these perfectly edible, yet less photogenic, items to good use.

Tip: Seconds are usually sold in bulk at a steep discount — sometimes half the price of pristine produce. Let your farmer know you’re looking for seconds, and you might be surprised how much good produce you walk away with. There have been times where I've gotten produce labeled for seconds that were still in really great shape and it surprised me that they were considered seconds.

3. Preserve With Friends – Share the Work and the Harvest

Canning doesn’t have to be a solo act! Gathering friends or neighbors to can together can make the process more fun, more efficient, and even more affordable. Sharing the cost of bulk produce, jars, and equipment can reduce your expenses significantly. Plus, it’s just more fun to chat, chop, and stir together — like a modern-day barn raising, but with pickles and peach jam.

Group preserving also allows for skill-sharing. Maybe one person is great at tomato sauce, another has a killer salsa recipe, and someone else is a fermentation fanatic. By working together, you can learn new techniques and expand your pantry offerings.

Tip: Organize a canning party and have each person bring a recipe and a portion of the ingredients. At the end of the day, everyone goes home with a mix of goods — and some great memories.

Canning is more than just preserving food — it’s about preserving the connection to your ingredients, your farmers, and your community. With a little planning and creativity, you can turn this age-old tradition into a seasonal celebration of abundance and sustainability.

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