Using traditional food preservation methods was a way of life in Bobette Von Bergen’s household.

“My mother always froze and canned [produce], and I cook from scratch so I rarely bought anything,” she said. “It’s just so easy to do some of this if you’ve got freezer space and time. You could cut down on grocery bills.”

Von Bergen’s Country Market in Hebron, which sells in-season produce, serves as a resource on food preservation methods. In recent years, beginning around the time when the recession hit, Von Bergen noticed more customers showing interest in canning vegetables and salsas. Higher food prices that agricultural economists have forecast for 2013 may push more consumers to explore ideas to stretch their dollars.