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Real Pickles

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

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Home / Community Investment Campaign

Community Investment Campaign

May 2013

Thanks to support from our community – We’ve gone co-op!

Real Pickles is re-writing the standard storyline for a successful organic food business: We’re staying small, independent & locally-owned. We’re securing our social mission for the long-term. We’ve become a worker-owned co-operative! (Read more about it on our blog.)

We are proud to report that in 2013, as part of our plan for transitioning Real Pickles to a worker-owned co-operative,  we launched a community investment campaign and successfully raised $500,000 in investments (in only 2 months!).

We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the 77 individuals and organizations throughout MA and VT who chose to make an investment – and to countless others for your invaluable words of wisdom and encouragement. We’re so appreciative of all the many ways in which our community has made it possible for Real Pickles to take this exciting step.

Our official transition to a worker-owned cooperative happened May 9th, 2013 … Hurray!!

Interested in other investment opportunities?

It’s become clear in the course of this campaign that there is a significant and growing interest in investing locally and responsibly. We think this is a hugely important trend and want to let you know about some other organizations offering opportunities in our region these days:

  • Equity Trust
  • Cooperative Fund of New England
  • Common Capital‘s Community First Fund
  • Co-op Power

Also, Western MA folks interested in local investing opportunities should keep tabs on the Slow Money Pioneer Valley Chapter, a working group of PVGrows. Their mission: “The Slow Money Pioneer Valley Chapter catalyzes community-based investment in the local food system by connecting investors, farmers and entrepreneurs in order to strengthen our local and regional food economy.”

A special thanks to Cutting Edge Capital for their extensive help in developing our community investment campaign. They are assisting many businesses in raising capital from their local communities.

Want to read more?

Here’s a list of posts that have been written during our process and transition. Enjoy!

  • Oct 9, 2012: We’re going co-op! (Dan and Addie Rose)
  • Dec 12, 2012: Why I want to be a worker-owner… again (Kristin Howard)
  • Mar 16, 2013: A community perspective: Keeping it Local! (Margaret Christie)
  • Apr 8, 2013: A community perspective: Investing in a better food system! (PV Slow Money Chapter)
  • Aug 15, 2013: Real Pickles and the Path to a Co-operative Economy (Erbin Crowell)
  • May 13, 2014: One Year as a Co-op (Kristin Howard)

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✨We’re excited to announce that two Real Pickles p ✨We’re excited to announce that two Real Pickles products have been named Good Food Award Finalists for 2026!✨
Real Pickles Organic Chile Kraut and Organic Nettle Kraut were selected as top scorers in the blind tasting competition and met the strict vetting criteria for sustainable and responsible production.
Out of more than 1,200 entries, we are incredibly honored to be recognized alongside 234 exceptional makers dedicated to crafting food and drink that are not only delicious, but also responsibly produced.
Congratulations to our fellow finalists, and thank you to the Good Food Foundation for your continued work in recognizing and celebrating companies committed to a more responsible food system! 💚

@goodfoodfdn 
#goodfoodawards #fermentation #organic #northeastgrown #realpickles
Join our Sales Team! We’re looking for a Sales Re Join our Sales Team! 
We’re looking for a Sales Representative who is inspired by our mission and is excited to explore worker-ownership in our co-op! 
Full job description at realpickles.com/jobs 
Link in bio.
Looking for a new recipe for soup night? Pickle so Looking for a new recipe for soup night? Pickle soup may sound unusual at first, but it’s a long-loved comfort food in parts of Eastern Europe and a delicious way to enjoy the benefits of fermented foods. This recipe has a rich, savory flavor with just a hint of tang and a whole lot of heartiness. Dig into your winter vegetable stash and pop open a jar of Organic Dill Pickles — you may have just found your new favorite soup! #RealPickles #SoupSeason #Organic #Recipe #Pickles
We love looking back at our top nine posts each ye We love looking back at our top nine posts each year - it helps us understand you, our followers, a little more and see what matters most to you. In 2025, you were all about community, environmental sustainability, human rights… and you even got a little silly with us! 
We want to thank all of you - our community, our farmers, our retailers, distributors and our incredible staff for a wonderful year! 
In 2026, we’ll continue our commitment to produce delicious, colorful and nourishing ferments while also contributing to positive social and environmental change. Wishing everyone a healthy, joy-filled new year! 
#NewYear #RealPickles #Top9 #Organic #NortheastGrown
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 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 comments and bio. #mocktail #RealPickles #Organic #NortheastGrown #partyideas
There’s no better way to say you care this year th There’s no better way to say you care this year than sharing the gift of delicious, organic, and local ferments. Whether you’re bringing them to the table for a family get-together or gift-giving, we have everyone’s favorites ready to share. 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. #RealPickles #NortheastGrown #Fermentation #SeasonofGiving #Organic

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

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