Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: July 2022: National Pickle Month. If my daughter Suzzie was here she would have been over the moon because she loved the Big Fat Dill Pickles and would have turned Candy down for a Pickle. Are you like that?
National Pickle Month
National Pickle Day is on November 14th and the holiday was created to celebrate the Pickle as one of the worlds favorite fermented foods. Pickles prove to be popular with people across the Country. The number of Pickle-eaters is projected to grow to more than 250 million by 2023. That gives plenty of time to position November 14th as prime pickle time!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
Did you know the practice of pickling has existed for thousands of years. The pickling process ensured a degree of preservation otherwise impossible in pre-modern conditions and was essential in providing a mobile supply of provisions for travelers as well as a dependable source of nutrition for those living through barren Winters. While a diverse set of foods can be pickled, Cucumber emerges as the dominant food that has been associated with the idea of both pickling and the word “pickle” itself. Archaeologists believe that the first evidence of pickled Cucumbers originates from Tigris River Valley Civilizations, and the nutritional benefits of the food would go on to be lauded by such historical figures as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.
With all their popularity in the Old World, Pickles would not make their appearance in North America until 1492. As you may have guessed by the year, the one responsible for the Pickles introduction was none other than Christopher Columbus. Pickles were included in Sailors’ rations on his expeditions as a means by which to prevent the onset of scurvy. By the mid-17th Century, Cucumbers bought from Dutch settlers farming in the New York area were pickled and distributed throughout the region. This would lay the foundations for the territory to be the perfect site for the introduction of the Kosher Dill Pickle.
In the time period of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, a large number of Eastern European Jews immigrated to the United States. They settled in the New York City area and they brought with them the unique methods that produce Kosher Dill Pickles. These early iterations of Pickles would develop into the now-famous and ever-familiar food available in grocery stores throughout the United States.
FACTS ABOUT PICKLES
More than 67% of all households eat Pickles and American households in particular purchase Pickles every 53 days!
Americans consume more than 9 pounds of Pickles per person annually and to give this context, the average Cucumber weighs about 0.8 pounds.
100,000 to 125,000 American acres are specifically devoted to growing pickling Cucumbers which are grown in more than 30 States.
NATIONAL PICKLE DAY FAQS
Without raising too much alarm, there is a strain of mildew that has been particularly harmful to Cucumber crops in the United States. However, researchers are working to develop a variety of mildew-resistant Cucumbers, which would secure the future of the pre-Pickle plant.
St. Charles, Illinois, the original home of the Pickle-centric marketing company Pickle Packers International, held the title for more than four decades. However, the organization has since relocated to Washington, D.C. Now, does this mean Washington D.C. is now the home of the Pickle?
It’s currently unknown, but States such as California, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin are among the largest Pickle producers in the United States.
NATIONAL PICKLE DAY ACTIVITIES
- If you have an appetite for Pickles then you should test your limits and see if you can break the world record for Pickle consumption. The current holder of the throne gobbled up more than five-and-a-half pounds of Pickles in six minutes.
- Just because the technique has been around for thousands of years doesn’t mean that it’s been perfected. There are limitless possibilities as to how you can go about making Pickles. It’s time for you to concoct your own formula and show the world what your Pickles are made of!
- If you don’t want to stuff yourself silly with Pickles, and you’re not inclined to brine your own Cucumbers, consider sampling different kinds of Pickles to discover what your favorite style of Pickle is.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PICKLE DAY
- Many choose to eat Pickles on their own, but Pickles can be enjoyed fried, in a sandwich, in a dip, or in Salad, and many other ways.
- Some people may pucker at the idea of Pickle Juice, but drinking Pickle Juice can help athletes reduce the likelihood of experiencing cramps after intense exercise.
- Pickles fermented in non-Vinegar brine solutions carry with them probiotic microorganisms that provide a host of health benefits.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
