International Pickles Week

International Pickles Week celebrates pickles and the many ways foods can be preserved in brine or vinegar. From dill and sweet pickles to spicy varieties, the week is an opportunity to enjoy their distinctive flavors and learn about their long history.

Archaeologists believe that ancient Mesopotamians were pickling cucumbers as early as 2400 B.C. Pickling helped preserve food for storage and travel, and the practice eventually spread through culinary traditions around the world. The word pickle comes from the Dutch pekel, meaning “brine.” Today, pickled foods include much more than cucumbers, with regional examples ranging from North American dill pickles to Korean kimchi and Japanese tsukemono.

The holiday’s beginnings are associated with Pickle Packers International, a trade organization founded in 1893. Accounts differ on whether International Pickle Week was launched in 1948 or first observed in 1949, following the wartime rationing of pickles in the United States. The celebration was intended to honor and promote the pickle industry. History.com’s overview places its launch in 1948, while a contemporary account describes an International Pickle Week observance in May 1949.

How to Observe International Pickles Week

Celebrate by opening a jar of your favorite pickles, or sample several varieties and compare their flavors and textures. Try pickled foods from different culinary traditions, prepare a batch of homemade pickles, or share a pickle-inspired snack with friends. You can also learn more about the history of pickling and the many foods that can be preserved this way.

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