DALEVILLE, Ind., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball® Brand home canning products, will host the Second Annual National Can-It-Forward Day on Saturday, July 14, to teach consumers how to preserve the fresh foods they love.  In the past year alone, the number of farmers markets has proliferated – increasing by nearly 20%, according to the USDA, as consumers across the country seek locally grown foods.  For similar reasons, the number of home gardeners continues to rise, with approximately 90 million US households planting gardens according to the National Gardening Association.

With consumer interest in farmers markets and gardening climbing at a rapid rate, there's no question people are looking to eat more fresh and local foods.  In fact, an April 2012 survey by Jarden Home Brands* found nearly 70% of consumers plan to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into their day-to-day cooking and eating habits.  With help from Ball® Brand fresh preserving products, consumers can enjoy their favorite summer produce throughout the year.

On National Can-It Forward Day, Ball® Brand canning pros will lead a live webcast of canning demonstrations and fresh preserving techniques on the Ball® Brand home canning website, www.FreshPreserving.com.  A leader in home canning for over 125 years, the Ball® Brand provides expert tools and resources to help newcomers reap the benefits of fresh preserving.

"Fresh preserving helps consumers eat local all year-long by capturing food at the peak of its harvest," said Chris Carlisle, Sr. Director of Marketing for Ball® Brand home canning products.  "National Can-It-Forward Day teaches foodies the simplicity of fresh preserving whether creating a delicious jam, pickling fresh cucumbers or canning local tomatoes."

Consumers interested in participating in National Can-It-Forward Day can join the festivities in a number of ways:

• A free, live webcast hosted at FreshPreserving.com will feature a day of instructional fresh preserving and home canning demonstrations on July 14 from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST.  Viewers will be able to ask questions and post comments in real time to be answered by Ball® Brand canning experts.  

• The webcast will be produced at Minnetrista in Muncie, IN, the original homestead of the Ball family that today houses one of the most complete historical home canning collections.  Local residents are invited to attend the event for free.

• Participants can share photos, videos, questions and comments on the Ball® Brand home canning Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/BallCanning, where fresh preservers from across the country will connect on Can-It-Forward Day.  Users can also Tweet along with the hashtag #canitforward.

Using "getting started" tips, a shopping checklist and recipes from FreshPreserving.com, consumers can host their own home canning parties with friends and family.

Visit FreshPreserving.com for a full schedule of National Can-It-Forward Day demos and to register to view the webcast and host a home canning party.

* ORC International survey April 22, 2012

About Jarden Corporation

Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of a diverse range of consumer products with a portfolio of over 100 trusted, quality brands sold globally. Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: OutdoorRye, N.Y., Jarden ranks #371 on the Fortune 500 and has over 23,000 employees worldwide. For in-depth information about Jarden, please visit www.jarden.com.

©2012 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). 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