Pickles education and training can set you on a path to discovery of how the endless options of pickles can enhance your inventory and recipe offerings. From a spicy pickle, sweet pickles to a petunia pickle, the possibilities of pickled products are endless. No matter whether you are a chef, a company that sells wholesale pickles, or one of the many pickle manufacturers, you can benefit from pickles education and training.

To stay ahead in this diverse and evolving industry, you need to continuously pursue pickles education and training. From finding new ways to use pickles to developing a new snack pickle, consider the following when doing your research on pickled products:

1. The Internet can be an endless source for continued pickles education and training.

2. Knowing the science behind the pickle as well as the difference between pickles imported and fresh pickles can make you more competitive in the industry.

3. Pickle associations give you the opportunity to network with pickle distributors and manufacturers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search websites of pickle enthusiasts and pickle manufacturers for pickles education and training

There are many websites dedicated to the pickle; how to make them, cook with them, and resources to learn about the key factors to developing and selling a tasty pickle. After just a few moments of research, you'll find that creating a tasty pickle involves more than just pickling a cucumber. Websites can offer you specialized recipes to appeal to everyone's tastes and purposes.

I recommend: Learn How to Pickle has information on making several pickled products. Canning websites, such as Canning Pantry, are also good online resources for pickling knowledge.

Learn the science behind fresh pickles

Pickling is a science that involves marrying vegetables with special brines, spices and techniques. The more you know about how these tasty treats are made, the better use you can make of them. Knowing which spices react with the natural flavor of a vegetable can make you an even more efficient pickle expert.

I recommend: The Accidental Scientist provides both tips and information about the background of pickle manufacturing. The University of Arkansas has a Pickle Science and Technology Program in the Department of Food Science that teaches all of the science behind the pickle.

Join associations for pickle manufacturers, pickle company staff and distributors

Take the opportunity to network within the pickle community. Pickle manufacturers, distributors, producers, and anyone with a general interest in the pickle can use the many resources offered by pickle organizations. You can get tips, insider knowledge, and discover a new way of looking at dill pickles by belonging to these groups.

I recommend: The North Carolina Pickle Producers Association is dedicated to cucumber and pickle research efforts. Pickle Packers International dedicates their website to offering definitions, cooking tips, and facts about pickles as part of their many resources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once you know the art of pickling you can apply it to more than just vegetables. Take the pickles education and training you acquire to the next level and use it to think and create outside of the pickle jar.

Technically, pickles are any perishable food preserved in brine, but when most of us think pickles, we think of pickled cucumbers. A favorite American food, pickles are low in calories, have no fat and are high in vitamin C. In the United States, people usually eat pickles either as a "pickled spear" side to sandwiches and other foods, as a condiment on such foods as hamburgers, or chopped up and mixed with other ingredients (as in potato salad).

Pickle manufacturing creates thousands of types of pickles to choose from, but the most common types eaten in America are sweet and sour. There are also plenty of sources for wholesale pickles, perfect for your restaurant or other food business. When buying pickles for your business, follow these steps:

1. Consider which types of pickled products your customers are most likely to crave.

2. Research pickle manufacturers and pickle distributors carrying those types.

3. Purchase from a wholesale pickle company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find scrumptious sweet pickles

Sweet pickles are made in a brine of vinegar, sugar and spices, and as their name suggests, they're sweeter than other types of pickled products. Bread and butter pickles, sweet gherkins and candied pickles are among the types of sweet pickles available today.

I recommend: Hausbeck Pickle Company carries a good selection of wholesale pickles, including sweet varieties. Southeast Wholesale Foods has a small line of pickles, including sweet pickles.

Savour sour pickles

Sour pickles are made in a brine without vinegar, and often have more garlic than sweet pickles. The longer the pickles stay in their brine, the more sour they turn. Half-sour pickles are more firm and crisp than regular sour pickles. Dill pickles are the most commonly eaten sour pickle in the United States.

I recommend: Pickles, Olives, Etc. sells full sour and half sour pickles in a variety of size. Pickle Guys provide wholesale sour, half sour and "3/4 sour" pickles.

Select specialty pickles

There are a huge variety of specialty pickles, including Kool-Aid pickles (yes, they are made in a brine of Kool-Aid drink!), kosher (which may or may not be technically kosher, but do have a stronger garlic flavor than regular dills), and cucumbers mixed with special ingredients to make them into a spicy pickle.

I recommend: Pickles-N-Things has many types of gourmet pickles, including sour mustard pickles and a variety of other pickles products. Moonbrine sells their special dill and hot pickles wholesale; click on the "Moonbrine Wholesale" link in the top menu for more information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For maximum business economy, don't throw away the brine or juices from your pickle jars. Instead, keep the juice refrigerated and use it as a marinade; allow peeled, hard boiled eggs or leftover vegetables (such as carrots, celery or broccoli) to steep in it to create your own pickled products; mix it with mayonnaise for a better potato salad; or add the juice to a Bloody Mary.

Based off the Middle English "pekille," pickles in the Western culture are a simple pickled cucumber. Connoisseurs enjoy pickles as a healthy snack, a refreshing condiment or a delicious side dish. When the cucumber is placed in a vinegar solution, the entire vegetable changes texture and flavor. From tiny gherkins to larger, regular cucumbers, pickles come in various sizes and shapes. Arm yourself with the knowledge needed to become a picker of the best pickles for your palate.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sweet

These type of pickles are packed in a mixture of sugar, vinegar and spices. Bread and butter, sweet gherkins and candied pickles are some popular types of sweet pickles.

I recommend: Pickle Packers International has a glossary where you can learn more about the popular types of sweet pickles.

Kosher

In simple pickling terms, a Kosher pickle is one that has garlic added to its brine. This type of dill pickle is usually served in a spear-like shape alongside a sandwich and has a more robust flavor than a regular dill pickle.

I recommend: Read more about the Kosher pickle and its terminology at the NY Food Museum.

Bread and butter

A type of sweet pickle, the bread and butter is a sweet, thinly-sliced type of pickle. It is pickled in a jar with chopped green or red onions, and when served, has a tangy taste. The pickles are also cut into either waffle shapes or chunks and are best on hamburgers, sandwiches or potato salad.

I recommend: Pickle Secrets has more information about bread and butter pickles.

Dill

Dill is the most common type of cucumber pickle served in the United States. The distinctive flavor was originally created with the use of dill weed, but today herb oil or dill oil is added to the cucumber during the pickling process. The longer the pickles ferment, the darker dill pickles they become.

I recommend: Look to Oregon State University and its definition of dill pickles.

Brine

The brine is the pickling liquid used to ferment the cucumber. Originally manufacturers used salt water to make pickles, but then vinegar was added to the mix. Depending upon the type of pickles made, seasonings and spices are added to change the flavorings. Once the pickles have been made, the leftover brine can be used for marinades, in salads or to pickle other vegetables such as peppers or green beans.

I recommend: Check Yooper Food to learn more about pickle brine.

Relish

This condiment is made from finely cut or chopped pickles served in a variety of flavors. Some popular flavors are sweet pickle, corn, hamburger, India and piccalilli. All these types of relish can be served on hot dogs, hamburgers, deviled eggs or sandwiches.

I recommend: Read all about relish at the food magazine, The Nibble.

Pickles pricing and costs are for the most part reasonable across the board. National brands, like Heinz, stand beside gourmet pickle companies without huge cost differences. Pickle distributors and retailers often offer customers both consumer products meant for grocery stores and commercial pickle options for restaurants and other food service venues.

Gourmet pickles are not as expensive as you might think, and they could satisfy a market segment in your area. When buying pickled products, you should consider the following:

1. Decide which gourmet pickle tastes best.

2. Stock your store shelves with well recognized pickle manufacturers.

3. Compare prices among big pickle companies and gourmet pickles makers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a pickle company that tastes right to you and your customers

The great thing about working with pickle manufacturers is that you can find the pickles and other pickled products that you like best. When stocking your pickle selection, bear in mind that there are many types of pickles from which to choose. The more unusual gourmet and organic options will cost more than a mass produced national product.

I recommend: Pickles 'n Things sells wholesale pickles and other products made without preservatives or additives. Its awarding-winning pickles are priced under $150 for 24 jars. Gourmet Pickles has a wider selection of pickle productions with prices running from about $4.00 to $5.00 a jar, not including shipping.

Consider that pickle distributors should carry private pickle brands

Pickle distributors can buy pickles from companies doing pickle manufacturing and move them into new markets. Usually the small companies appeal to discreet markets. The organic market will enjoy pickles made organically. Foodies will enjoy 'authentic' New York style pickles.

I recommend: Pickle Licious, a small privately owned company, sells New York style fresh pickles by half and full quarts and half and full gallons. A gallon of sour pickles sells for under $30, while a quart sells for around $10. Sunshine Fresh sells six quarts of its Kosher dill pickles for under $30.

Compare pickles pricing and costs between industry pickles and gourmet pickles

For food retailers, stocking pickles is expected. Before choosing what to buy, you must consider your customers -- are they people who enjoy top-of-the-line pickle products, or those who like to buy middle-of-the-road brands? Compare the pricing and costs of these items.

I recommend: Pickle Guys is a high-end pickle company that will ship anywhere and to retailers, wholesalers and distributors. Its pickles cost about $21 a gallon. You can buy in smaller quantities, too. A quart of pickles is about $7. FoodServiceDirect.com sells Heinz pickles ranging from about under $30 to around $60 per case.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The shelf life of fresh pickles is much shorter than industry pickles, so consider your average turnover carefully before you order
• •  If there is a type of pickle specific to your region, stocking it adds local flavor to your establishment.