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Real Pickles

Northeast Grown, 100% organic, fermented & raw pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, kvass, and hot sauce

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Home / Farmers / Chamutka Farm

Chamutka Farm

Location: Whately, MA
Farmers: Dave Chamutka
Supplies Real Pickles with fresh chile peppers, cucumbers, green cabbage, red cabbage, tomatillos

Dave runs Chamutka Farm, a 50-acre certified organic vegetable farm in Whately, MA. Farming since 1980, his major crops include cucumbers, cabbage, squash, tomatoes, and strawberries. He sells his high quality vegetables at local grocery stores and through a local farmer cooperative, the Pioneer Valley Growers Association.

Dave has a long history with pickles. He grew up in South Deerfield, where the Oxford pickle plant (originally the Jewett plant) operated from 1896 to 2006. The Oxford plant was among the largest pickle manufacturers in the Northeast, and served as a primary market for vegetable farmers in the Connecticut River Valley during its years of operation. When he was a kid, Dave’s parents raised a small crop (about 1 1/2 acres) of pickling cucumbers each year for the Oxford plant, as did many of his neighbors. Back then, Oxford paid growers by the number of cucumbers delivered. Dave recalls sitting under the tree as a child, helping his parents to count their freshly-harvested cucumbers. As a teenager, he worked on larger cucumber farms as well as dairies.

Dave started his own farming business in 1980, and bought his current farm just 2 years later. From the beginning, his primary crop was pickling cucumbers, which he sold to the Oxford plant. By the time Dave got into farming for himself, Oxford had begun paying farmers based on weighing and grading of the cucumbers at the plant, so Dave was spared the task of counting each cucumber he harvested! From early on, Dave also specialized in growing tomatoes and winter squash. After farming conventionally for many years, Dave started transitioning to organic in 1998. Now, Dave grows all of his crops certified organically.

Chamutka Farm was the very first supplier to Real Pickles, growing the 1000 pounds of pickling cucumbers we purchased in 2001 to make our first batches of Organic Dill Pickles. Dave continues to this day to be a major source of our two most important vegetables: cucumbers and cabbage. With the Oxford pickle plant now closed, Real Pickles is incredibly fortunate to be able to benefit from Dave’s growing skills and experience as we carry on the pickling tradition in western Massachusetts.

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Still looking for that perfect gift? How about som Still looking for that perfect gift? How about something that supports regional organic farms, creates meaningful jobs in our community, and is super delicious?! Consider a few jars of Real Pickles ferments or one of our cozy organic cotton tees! Check out the store locator on our website to find the Northeast store closest to you, or order a 4 jar sampler, some colorful merch, or a Real Pickles gift certificate on our webstore!
Link in profile.
Yesterday’s staff lunch was catered by Amy McMah Yesterday’s staff lunch was catered by Amy McMahan and Chef Masenie of Mesa Verde in Greenfield, and instead of their usual Cali-Mex menu, we arranged, through Amy, to have Masenie, an immigrant from Haiti, prepare us an authentic Haitian meal and WOW was it delicious! Last June, Greenfield became home to many Haitian immigrant families, and in an effort to help the newcomers feel at home, Amy has been hosting Haitian pop-ups at her restaurant every Sunday evening, serving up this unique and delectable cuisine prepared by Masenie. “I feel like when people feel represented with their cuisine, it’s really what diversity, inclusion and equity is about,” said Amy, and we couldn’t agree more! Our quarterly staff lunches are a time for all of us at Real Pickles to gather, share a meal and create community beyond the day to day work duties. We love it when these lunches become an opportunity to support another local business doing great things! If you’re local, check out the Haitian pop-up, every Sunday from 5-7pm at @mesaverdegf
There is something so comforting about a warm sand There is something so comforting about a warm sandwich on a chilly day. Real Pickles ferments are a tasty and nutritious addition to a grilled cheese. We love adding Organic Sauerkraut and sliced tart apples to ours and creating a sweet and savory, toasted masterpiece! The possibilities are truly endless! Show us your favorite grilled cheese and ferment sandwich, tag us and include the hashtag #MyRealPickles for a chance to win a 4 pack of your favorite Real Pickles ferments!  Details in comments. 

#RealPickles #grilledcheese #ferments #organic #recipeideas #northeastgrown 

📷@clarebarboza @poppybeesurfaces
Real Pickles uses organic, regionally-grown vegeta Real Pickles uses organic, regionally-grown vegetables, abundant with healthy microbes for our ferments. Fermentation by these healthy microbial communities produce many nutritious compounds unique to fermented vegetables and help to increase the availability of essential nutrients to the body! How are you getting your daily ferment fix? 

#RealPickles #regionalfood #organic #fermentation #microbes #fermentedveggies #beets
Wishing you all a healthy and joyous holiday of gr Wishing you all a healthy and joyous holiday of gratitude. 🧡
Take a moment this week to learn about the history of Thanksgiving. The United South and Eastern Tribes @uset.inc has a brief and powerful list of resources for all ages. Link in our bio.
Get ready to please your gut, your taste buds, and Get ready to please your gut, your taste buds, and your party guests! Check out these simple and festive beverage ideas using your left over pickle brine or Beet Kvass. Serve these tasty mock-tails at your next holiday dinner party or family game night! Recipe in bio. 

#guthealth #mocktails #fermented #recipe #organic 

📷by @clarebarboza

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311 Wells St
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 774-2600
info@realpickles.com

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