Women looking for snap lids to fit their gem preserving jars, a line
that has been discontinued by the manufacturer, are having to turn to
friends or relatives who may have leftover lids from past canning
seasons.
Others, reluctant to shell out money to buy the new line of glass jars
and lids, are turning to antiques. Before the replaceable snap lids
came into use, the gem line used glass lids with rubber rings and zinc
twist screwbands.
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But Wanda Oster of Medstead, Sask., has done a survey in her area and
found another problem.
“In talking with store keepers in Glaslyn (Co-op) and Spiritwood (Shop
Easy), the supply of their rubber rings to fit the glass lids is
limited to what they have in the store at present. The rubber rings are
no longer available.”
That was confirmed by three other stores Oster talked to in North
Battleford, Medstead and Spiritwood.
She said the person who runs a truck selling British Columbia produce
to rural prairie areas complained that fruit sales were down
considerably, possibly because women can’t can.
However, Brad Bauml, the food manager of Federated Co-operatives Ltd.,
which is the supplier to all prairie co-op retail stores, said the
rubber rings would be coming later this fall. He confirmed that the 78
millimetre snap lids are not available either in Canada or the United
States.
Beyond the hoarded treasures in basements, people can check on the
internet where ebay is advertising in its canning jar section about 100
offers. Most are for antique jars that use glass lids and metal wire
fasteners. A typical lot offered on Sept. 6 was for six quart canning
jars with glass lids and two other lids for $3 US.
A Winnipeg company, Richards Packaging, does not have the 78 millimetre
snap lids either, said order clerk Sharon Hewitt. She said because of
the phone calls the company had received, it was looking at producing a
lid. But if did go ahead, the lids would not be ready until next year’s
canning season.
Sealing jars with wax paraffin is not safe enough, said Donna Ryland,
of the University of Manitoba’s faculty of human ecology. She said
freezing food would be the best alternative for women who did not want
to buy the new jars.
An on-line website to register a protest to the loss of the gem lids is
at www.members.shaw.ca/gemlids.
