ANNING WAS invented by a Frenchman named Nicholas Appert, who developed the process that kept foods from spoiling when Napolean Bonaparte offered a cash prize to the person who could invent a way of preserving food for his army. Nicholas won the prize, and built a bottling factory with the winnings.

From 18th century France to today, canning has come a long way down history's winding road. The 40s found canning a popular activity when food was in short supply during World War II. At that time, home canning was a patriotic activity complete with Victory gardens-vegetable gardens planted during the world wars to ensure sufficient food supplies for civilians and troops. While the 50s found canning still popular, the increase and popularity of frozen foods brought on a decline in canning during the 60s and 70s.

Today, the art of home canning is experiencing a revival, as more and more people want to savor the taste of ripe, orchard-fresh fruit all year long. Canning is fun, it's very gratifying and it is a great way to bring the tastes of summer to family meals every month of the year.

With delicious, in-season, local summer fruits gracing our produce shelves, such as fresh strawberries from Watsonville, CA, and the ever-popular O'Henry freestone peach from Reedley, CA, now is the ideal time to purchase flats of all your favorite fruits for canning. From blueberries to strawberries, and everything in between, we have farm fresh fruits perfect for jams and preserves.

In addition to the freshest fruits, Andronico's also features two sizes of Kerr canning jars, replacement lids, canning labels, paraffin wax, gelatin, pectin and other must-haves for all of your canning needs.

Never canned before? No need to worry. We have copies of Steve Dowdney's colorful and descriptive book on canning, Putting Up: A Year-Round Guide to Canning in the Southern Tradition. This easy-to-understand narrative guides you safely through the home canning process, and includes 65 delicious recipes that Steve produces for his successful canning business. This book also explains how to 'put up' crops harvested during each month of the year. Here is one recipe from Putting Up that will make 6 half pint jars of luscious peach preserves: Peach Mint Preserves.

Sweet, succulent and juicy, the sensational flavors and textures of summer's finest fruits can be preserved beyond the summer season with canning. Spectacular when enjoyed in-season at the peak of freshness, these favorites for canning and preserves can be savored well after the season has ended.

Apricots Capture the concentrated velvetiness, sweetness, and slight tartness of this sensational early summer fruit. With its beautiful golden-orange color and small shape, this smooth relative of the peach is in season in North America from May to August.

Blueberries What could be more decadent than a dollop of deep-dark blueberry preserves spread on a piece of freshly baked bread? Not much. Bursting with a flavor that ranges from tart to mildly sweet, these deep blue beauties, in season from May to mid-fall, are a favorite summertime treat that deserve to be enjoyed year-round.

Cherries The season for cherries is short and sweet, lasting only until about mid-August, which makes cherry preserves a much-appreciated luxury. Succulent and indulgent, scarlet-colored cherry preserves served alongside toast or scones will always steal the show.

Peaches Even in the dead of winter, there is something about the sweet flavor of peaches that just makes you think of summertime. The warmth of their sunny orange color, the sweet aromas, and the juicy texture transport you to another place and time. Serve canned peaches over pound cake or vanilla ice cream, or spread peach preserves on a biscuit, and summer has returned again.

Raspberries From June through October, red raspberries are an absolute favorite. Seeming to melt in your mouth, releasing a sweet, subtly tart flavor and unmistakable fragrance, raspberry jams and preserves are two classics that truly capture the distinctiveness of this summer treat. Often found layered in cakes and cookies, raspberry jam is equally good on a slice of buttered toast.

Strawberries A spoonful of chunky strawberry preserves is pure magic. Unbelievably fragrant, ravishingly red, and incredibly sweet, strawberries are a summer sensation that should be savored long after their peak season has ended. With the capacity to elevate a simple peanut butter sandwich to extraordinary heights, strawberry preserves bring the sweet taste of summer to the table.