The Henrico County office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension will co-sponsor a four-week program this fall to train volunteers to serve as community experts in basic nutrition, meal planning and healthy cooking techniques.

The Master Food Volunteer Program is being introduced to residents of Henrico, Chesterfield County and the city of Richmond to promote nutrition and wellness. The program is modeled after the Master Gardener Program, which trains residents to serve the community as experts in horticulture.

Informational meetings on the Master Food Volunteer Program will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16 at the L. Douglas Wilder Building at Virginia State University on Carter G. Woodson Avenue in Chesterfield County. The deadline to register is Thursday, Aug. 2.

The training classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Tuesday from Sept. 18 through Oct. 9 in the Wilder Building at Virginia State. The $65 fee will offset the cost of materials, a continental breakfast and a lunch prepared during each session. As part of the program, participants will be expected to complete 30 hours of volunteer service within one year by leading food demonstrations or working displays at health fairs or farmers markets.

For information or to register for one of the informational meetings, call Kimberly Edmonds at 501-5160 or visit http://www.co.henrico.va.us/extension