News
Garlic Dills win again at the Good Food Awards!
January 13, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - For the second year in a row, Real Pickles was awarded a top honor for their Organic Garlic Dill Pickles at the Good Food Awards in San Francisco, hosted by renowned chef Alice Waters. The Good Food Awards highlight outstanding American food producers who are making food that is exceptionally delicious and supports sustainability and social good.
In addition to the pickle honor, Real Pickles' co-owner Dan Rosenberg was among those selected to address the audience of approximately 400 artisan food producers and other invited guests assembled for the ceremony. In his speech, Rosenberg lauded the Good Food Awards for its efforts to change the way we think about food in the U.S.
"With its efforts to promote both taste and social responsibility, the Good Food Awards are helping to bring 'good food' back into the American diet," said Rosenberg after the winners had been announced. "Pickles are an essential food - one that can keep people eating nutritious fruits and vegetables from regional sources all year long, regardless of how cold the weather gets."
As part of the award, Real Pickles was asked to recognize three members of their community who have contributed to the business' success. Rosenberg acknowledged Atlas Farm and Riverland Farm, two suppliers who grow vegetables for the winning Organic Garlic Dill Pickles, as well as Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) for their work on raising community awareness in western Massachusetts about the benefits of buying local food.
The Good Food Awards are given to artisan producers in five regions of the U.S. in eight categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, pickles, preserves and spirits.
We're a Double Finalist for 2012 Good Food Awards!
November 15, 2011
Real Pickles has been named a Finalist in the 2012 Good Food Awards! We captured two of the four spots in the Pickle category for the East region, with both our Organic Garlic Dill Pickles and Organic Red Cabbage chosen as contenders for Winner status. The Good Food Awards, now in its second year, seeks to highlight food producers making food that is "tasty, authentic, and responsibly produced". Last January, we were honored as a Winner for our Organic Garlic Dill Pickles in a ceremony hosted by renowned restauranteur Alice Waters. In January 2012, we will learn whether we have won a second time!
Ferment: The Real Pickles Blog
October 14, 2011
The social ferment in the streets these days has inspired us at Real Pickles to start our blog, Ferment. Dan leads off with some thoughts about the connections between making organic pickles and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Our New Facility is 100% Solar Powered!
May 26, 2011
Real Pickles is proud to announce that our 311 Wells Street facility is now powered entirely with solar energy! In April 2011, we hired our neighbor, Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics, to install a 17 kW photovoltaic system for us. Consisting of 80 solar panels located on our rooftop, the system will annually produce over 18,000 kWh, more than enough to supply all of our facility's electricity needs. We're excited about this opportunity to contribute to the effort to reduce pollution and combat global climate change! Read the full story about our facility, including its energy efficiency features and photovoltaic system.
Real Pickles receives CISA's Local Hero Award
March 14, 2011
Real Pickles was honored at CISA's Annual Meeting the other night with a Local Hero Award for "helping to build the local food system of the future" through our work. We have huge respect for CISA and their "Be A Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown" campaign, so it's a thrill to be recognized by them. Thanks, CISA!
Processing for Local Agriculture Case Study Series: Real Pickles
February 7, 2011
Our local non-profit, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, has published a case study of Real Pickles: Processing for Local Agriculture Case Study Series: Real Pickles. How do we as a society go about building strong local/regional food systems? What are some of the key challenges and how might they be overcome? This study focuses on lessons learned at Real Pickles as we have worked to increase the year-round supply in the Northeast of high quality foods produced from locally-raised ingredients. Happy reading!
Our Garlic Dills win a Good Food Award!
January 15, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Dan Rosenberg and Addie Holland of Greenfield-based Real Pickles joined top artisan food producers from around the country on Friday for the Good Food Awards ceremony at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. At the event, restauranteur and food activist Alice Waters announced the winners and, much to the couple's delight, Real Pickles' Organic Garlic Dills was on the list.
"We're so pleased", said Rosenberg after the winners had been announced. "When we started the business in 2001, there was little awareness of the flavor and health benefits of fermented foods. We think we make great pickles but to be recognized in this national setting is very exciting."
Real Pickles uses traditional methods to make its line of fermented vegetables. Their Organic Garlic Dill Pickles, as with all of their products, are made with certified organic vegetables from local family farms, including Chamutka Farm in Whately and Atlas Farm in Deerfield. The garlic is sourced from Old Friends Farm in Amherst, and the dill from Riverland Farm in Sunderland. The pickles are available from area retailers including Green Fields Co-op Market in Greenfield, River Valley Market in Northampton, and many Whole Foods Market locations.
The Good Food Awards are given to artisan producers in five regions of the U.S. in seven categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, pickles and preserves, and highlight outstanding American food producers who are making food that is exceptionally delicious and supports sustainability and social good.
Real Pickles' winning product was chosen from over 780 entries from around the country. There were four other winners from New England, including Barrington Coffee Roasting Company in Lee, Massachusetts, and Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, Vermont.
