In an earlier thread Ace Hardware was suggested as a source for canning supplies.

Agway stores, many farm, and grain/feed suppliers. On line, TrueValue, Ace. Forget Home Depot and Lowes. If your local hardware doesn't have it, ask ther manager to order for you. If its an ACE or True Value, order on line and pick it up in the local store. I can go to the next town over, and buy dozens of cases of jars, but find that Big Lots has the 'generic brand' Golden Harvest, which are made by Ball. Agway near here, as the mixes, and some canning supplies. Also a the local farm coop has these, as well as pectin, ascorbic acid, pickling salt. If you cant find a canner, you can fid very large staninless steep pots with covers. Just make sure they are tall enough to fit the largest canning jar with severla more inches above for water and working space. Worst case, order from a Web supplier like Kitchen Krafts, or many others. So a web search and you will fin hundreds, if not thousands of suppliers. Its not a small industry, and has been around for more than a century, only a few less people do it compared to the old days.. Forget Target, Walmart, and any big national discount store. Heck even supermarkets carry canning supplies right now..

Both my canners (BWB and Mirro pressure canner) came from amazon.com. I think the BWB canning kit qualified for free shipping and the whole kit was around $50-$60. The pressure canner was a gift, so I don't know about that. Jar lifters, funnels, and other canning supplies can also be found on amazon or kitchenkrafts.com.

Ace Hardware is great for buying jars out of season, because shipping is usually prohibitively expensive. You can order from acehardware.com for shipping to your nearest Ace store. I haven't tried them for anything other than jars, though.

Hope that helps!
Julie

Thanks for the help. I didn't think to check smaller hardware stores. We have Ace and many others around here.

My Ace had water bath canners, jars/lids galore, tongs, funnels, jelly bags, pressure cooker/canner gaskets & valves, etc. but no pressure canners and only had freezer pectin. Go figure.

Ace won't necessarily stock pressure canners, but they offer them online (Presto) and delivery to your local store is free.

Carol

Thanks Carol, I kinda figured it was a special order item since they are unlikely to sell off the shelf very quickly. I was more puzzled by the fact that the owner said they only carry freezer jelly pectin and I can't find any other in my local groceries. I'm driving up to farm and cherry country for the holiday and hope to find more supplies while in that area.
Cheers

My guess on the pectin is that you're in an area where most people don't can. There are a lot of people who will do freezer jam but nothing else so the store's stocking what sells. Again, though, last time I checked, Ace did carry other pectins online, so you could get it shipped to your local store.

Another possibility is to buy bulk powdered pectin online. There are several suppliers and the cost savings is enough to cover the shipping.

Carol

Pomona pectin is sold in bulk too.

My local True Value had a pretty good selection of supplies, including pressure canners.

My two cent.

Jars--- thrift stores and yard sale. Great prices. Just clean jars really well.

Pressure Canner-- All american pressure canners can be found on line. Its a great style and I wont use anything else.

I dont make jams so I cant help ya with those suplies. As for other suplies. Many people are afraid to use used items but if they are washed well your just fine .

Tracy