Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
For many people across the United States, when they hear the world pickle they think Mt. Olive Pickle Company, and rightfully so. Currently celebrating its 100-year anniversary, Mt. Olive Pickle Company is a staple in the Mount Olive landscape, as well as on tables across the United States. From dill, sweet and spicy pickles to pickled veggies and relish, the Mt. Olive Pickle team works hard every year to produce delicious and unique products from farm fresh ingredients.
In the early 1900’s, the town of Mount Olive was a small player in a big agriculture industry. Historically, cucumbers have played a big role on North Carolina farms as a rotational crop with tobacco. Due to our state’s sandy soil and climate, cucumbers have always grown well here and given farmers a way to diversify their operations. Even though many farmers grew cucumbers in the early 1900’s, not very many people bought them. In fact, the market for cucumbers was so small, many of them could be seen rotting in the fields each June. Enter Mt. Olive Pickle Company! On January 2, 1926, thirteen community members came together to invest in a company that would open a new market for farmers by purchasing cucumbers to produce pickles. By year-end, 37 people had invested in the new company. These original investors spanned the professional gamut, from physicians and produce buyers to merchants and mechanics. “The original investors of this company represented the town of Mount Olive in the best way,” said Lynn Williams, Public Relations Manager for Mt. Olive Pickle Company. “Our roots have always stood firm in the heart of the community, which can be seen from the very beginning to now.” Today, Mt. Olive Pickle Company has about 475 investors that continue to represent the heart and soul of the company. “We are not a family-owned business, but we are a family,” Lynn said. “Each and every one of us believe in the mission of Mt. Olive Pickle Company and strive to continue the heritage and legacy that has been built here.”
Since its inception, Mt. Olive Pickle Company has grown tremendously both in size and variety of products produced. In fact, when the company originally began, the investors only had one acre to work with. Today, the company is home to 250 acres of warehouse and packing facility space, and produces 300 million jars of products each year, from pickles and peppers to relish and pickled veggies. Most items produced at Mt. Olive Pickle Company come from farmers across the United States. “Almost a third of everything we buy comes from farmers right here in North Carolina,” Lynn said. “Although, we are pickling so many cucumbers throughout the year, we do have to source from other states as well, from Florida to the Midwest and Texas.” Over 200 flavors and styles of products are made year-round at Mt. Olive Pickle Company, including dill pickles and sweet pickles in various sizes.
Once cucumbers arrive at the packing facility in Mount Olive, they are either used for Fresh Pack Pickles or Processed Pickles. The primary difference is in what happens to them before they are packed into jars: Cucumbers intended for processed pickles are placed in a salt brine solution in large outdoor brine tanks for fermenting. Once fermented, they can be packed at any time. Cucumbers intended for Fresh Pack Pickles do not undergo fermentation first, and have to be packed within a short period of time. Whether coming out of the brine tanks or being unloaded fresh from farms, cucumbers begin their pickling process with a thorough cleaning in outdoor wet hoppers. Once clean, they are taken into the packing facility for cutting (if needed) and sorting.
After the cucumbers are cut, they are placed into jars, and the cover brine – or pickle juice – is added. The jars of product are then placed in a pasteurizer and heated to just the right temperature before quickly being brought down to cool.
“Pasteurization makes the pickles shelf-stable, which is why our products can be found year-round on grocery store shelves instead of in the refrigerated section,” Lynn said. Once pasteurized, the jars are labeled and shipped out to retailers across the United States.
Products from Mt. Olive Pickle Company can be found at most major U.S. retail chains, including Harris Teeter, Walmart, Food Lion and Publix. Fun fact, they can also be found in Alaska and Hawaii! “It’s so much fun to see our products in both large retail chains and small local stores across the country,” Lynn said. “We take pride in providing a little bit of home on the grocery store shelves.” Although Mt. Olive Pickle Company produces a wide variety of pickle flavors and sizes, consumers mustn’t forget about all the other delicious, pickled products they create, like relish and veggies. In fact, their newest products, which came out at the end of last year, are red and sweet pickled onions! “Our pickles onions have become my new obsession,” said Digital Marketing Manager, Catey Labban. “I like to make rice bowls for lunch or dinner, and these onions provide the perfect flavor and crunch to compliment any bowl. They also go extremely well on burgers, pizza, and salads!” Mt. Olive also produces banana peppers, jalapenos, hot okra, roasted peppers and more. Check out the store locator on their website to find products in your area!
If you’re looking for an excuse to visit Mount Olive, look no further than the Mt. Olive Pickle Parlor located in downtown Mount Olive. “The storefront location of the Pickle Parlor dates back to 1910, and Mt. Olive Pickle Company was founded in the 1920’s, so we created a Roaring Twenties vibe with a modern twist throughout the inside of the parlor,” Lynn said. “The history of our company is illustrated in photos along every wall, and we use our pickle bar to serve up pickle samples, soft drinks and more.” The Pickle Parlor is part museum, part store and part pickle bar, so make a day of visiting and enjoy all that Mount Olive has to offer. If you attend in April, be sure to catch the 40th annual Mount Olive Pickle Festival as well!
Although both Lynn and Catey enjoy working at Mt. Olive Pickle Company for a plethora of reasons, the history, legacy and community are top contenders. “I have learned, alongside our customer base, to enjoy and appreciate the little things,” Lynn said. “At Mt. Olive Pickle Company, we make your burgers better. We make your pizza better. We make your sandwiches better. It’s the little things in life that often bring us the most joy, and being a part of the process that provides joy to people across the United States is a tremendous honor.” Mt. Olive Pickle Company has a large and loyal fan base that continues to transcend time and grow through the generations. “As the manager of our social media accounts, I see many stories where the love of our products is passed down from one generation to the next,” Catey said. “I love seeing how our products become part of family traditions, and it’s an honor to play even a small role in helping create those moments each year.” If you don’t already follow Mt. Olive Pickle Company on social media, be sure to do so and stay in the know on all upcoming events, products, and more. This year will offer especially exciting announcements as they celebrate their 100-year anniversary!
We are so proud of the history, heritage and legacy that exists at Mt. Olive Pickle Company, as well as how they continue to grow and impact the agriculture industry across our state. We look forward to celebrating their milestone anniversary with them and seeing where they continue to expand in the years to come!
