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Real Pickles

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

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Home / Products / FAQ

FAQ

Find answers to common questions about our fermented products below. If you have other questions, please email us or give us a call!
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When I opened my jar it was fizzy! Is it ok to eat?

Yes. Refrigeration slows the fermentation of our products, but does not stop it – and some of our batches are especially active! If you experience a fizzy sensation on your tongue or open a jar to find downright bubbly kraut, rest assured that you are eating a living food. It is not only safe to eat, but proof that the live cultures and enzymes are hard at work!

When I opened my jar it didn't *pop* like other canned pickles do. Is it ok to eat?

Yes. Our products are cold-packed, which means that they are not cooked or vacuum sealed. Most pickles and sauerkraut you’ll find on the grocery shelf are cooked to create a vacuum seal that makes them shelf stable (and which, when broken, makes the *pop* sound when you first open the jar). In order to preserve the healthful probiotic qualities of our products, we pack them raw and then refrigerate to slow the fermentation at the height of tastiness!

Can I eat Real Pickles products if I don't eat dairy or lactose?

Yes. Lactic acid fermentation, despite its misleading name, actually bears no relation to dairy products. Our products are lactose-free.

What happens if a jar of Real Pickles is left out of refrigeration?

The fermentation process will resume. After a few hours at warm temperatures, some carbonation may develop in the jar, leading to a fizzy or tingling sensation on the tongue. If you find the carbonation undesirable, you can eliminate it by leaving the jar in the refrigerator for several days with the lid on loosely (giving the carbon dioxide a chance to escape). Left out of refrigeration for a few days, the product may become softer and more sour, but it will not spoil.

Once I open a jar of Real Pickles product, how long will it last?

Once opened, the jar should last at least 1 to 2 months under refrigeration. After this time, the top portion (exposed to air) may begin to darken in color and change in flavor, while the product below will remain unaffected for a longer period of time. At this stage, the discolored portion may be discarded and you can continue to enjoy the remainder of the jar.

Why have I noticed differences in the taste or texture between two jars of the same product?

The fermentation process can be affected by subtle factors such as the moisture content of a particular batch of cabbage or the soil type in a cucumber field. As a result, batches frequently vary in taste, texture, and color. Also, as raw products, they will continue to ferment at a very slow rate under refrigeration, leading to continued changes over time.

Why do the Organic Dill Pickles have a cloudy brine and a white sediment at the bottom of the jar?

The white sediment is a natural and healthy by-product of the lactic acid fermentation. When disturbed, the sediment becomes distributed throughout the jar and gives a cloudy appearance to the brine.

Are Real Pickles products gluten-free? Nut-free?

Our products are not currently certified gluten-free and we have not had them tested for gluten. However, our facility is dedicated to the production of Real Pickles products and none of the ingredients in any of our products contain gluten or nuts.

Are there microplastics in the sea salt Real Pickles uses?

A 2018 study (Kim et al.) examined microplastic content in sea salts, rock salts and lake salts across the world. The highest microplastic content was in Asian sea salts, as a result of increased plastic pollution in regional ocean waters. Microplastics in European sea salts were found at much lower levels – similar to rock salts, and in many cases below concentrations found in rock salts. In many cases, refined salts had higher concentrations of microplastics than unrefined salts. While we have not had our salt brand tested for microplastics, based on results in this paper, we feel confident that our choice to use a high quality unrefined European sea salt minimizes microplastic content in our products.

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These are REAL pickles: naturally fermented withou These are REAL pickles: naturally fermented without vinegar. Organic and Northeast grown.  #ReelPickles 
#PackedWithAMission #RealPickles #organic #northeastgrown #pickles #fermented #reels
Thanks for featuring us in this AMAZING raw salad Thanks for featuring us in this AMAZING raw salad @perfectfoodsinc ! 

Repost @perfectfoodsinc 
BEST Raw Vegan Salad You’ll Ever Have👇

This salad is Day 1 of our raw vegan reset cleanse. Full recipes for the dressing and faux tuna and the rest of the week’s delicious recipes can be found in our cleanse 👉 link in bio to set up a free consultation.

Ingredients:
🌱 4 oz @perfectfoodsinc Sunflower Microgreens (chopped)
🌱 4 oz @perfectfoodsinc Pea Microgreens (chopped)
🥕 Carrots
🥬 Romaine Lettuce & Celery
🌞 Sunflower Faux Tuna
✨ @realpickles Sauerkraut
🥕 Carrot Ginger Dressing
🎃 Topped with pumpkin seeds and mung bean sprouts

Comment below ME if you are looking to lose weight, reduce inflammation, improve gut health, increase energy levels or just overall level up and improve your health and want a FREE health consultation to see if our cleanse is for you👇👇

#rawvegan #vegansofig #juicing #cleanse #juicecleanse #detox #holsiticheslth #autoimmunedisease #inflammation #guthealth #cleanseyourbody #feelingmyself #sprouting #sproutsfarmersmarket #greensmoothie #fixmeaplate #smoothierecipes #nyc #nycvegan #vegansofinsta #vegansofnj
We are thrilled to introduce you all to TWO MORE m We are thrilled to introduce you all to TWO MORE member-owners of our co-op, Amy Laprade and Victor Signore! As a worker co-operative, Real Pickles is preserving our strong social mission, empowering our staff to direct the future of our business, and creating good local jobs with shared profits. 

Amy is part of our production team and our shipping and distribution team. Amy says “what excites me the most about becoming a worker owner at Real Pickles is the opportunity to build alliances with like-minded people, which can help shape the kind of community I wish to live in.” When Amy is not packing your orders and making ferments she likes to spend her time writing, doing hot yoga and spending quality time with her partner Geoff and their cat, Jack. 

Victor is the Real Pickles Vegetable Coordinator. He is responsible for maintaining our relationships with our farmers, helping to plan our starting season, ordering vegetables and so much more! He says that he is excited to be a part of something that is having a positive effect in supporting our local agriculture, local economy and our community. “Being a worker-owner means that I can help shape the future of Real Pickles and what our next steps may be as we face issues, such as climate change.” Victor is a musician, a visual artist and lives nearby with his partner, Mere and their sweet kitty Olalla.

We are so excited that our co-operative is expanding to include these excellent folks! Welcome Victor and Amy!

#workercooperative #workerowned #RealPickles #PackedWithAMission
Real Pickles is hiring a production assistant! Lin Real Pickles is hiring a production assistant! Link in bio for details! 

Real Pickles is a worker-owned co-operative in Greenfield, MA, producing organic fermented vegetables from Northeast-grown produce.  Our mission is to promote human and ecological health by providing people with delicious, nourishing food and by working toward a regional, organic food system in the Northeast.  As a co-op, each worker has the opportunity to become an owner of the business and participate in shaping its future.  We are strongly committed to creating good jobs that support the dignity of all workers in an equitable and inclusive workplace. 
#workercoops #workerowned #coop
The time has come! Organic Dill Pickles are back f The time has come! Organic Dill Pickles are back for the season! Thank you to our farmers for such an abundant and beautiful start to the cucumber harvests! Fresh batches of pickles are making their way to your stores in the Northeast! Enjoy! 

*check out our store locator on our website. Link in bio.

#RealPickles #DillPickles #organic #lactofermentation #NortheastGrown #coop 

@atlasfarm @redfirefarm
@leafandbeanfarm on Ask A Sista Farmer series this @leafandbeanfarm on Ask A Sista Farmer series this Friday at 4pm on Instagram Live @soulfirefarm - See you there! 

Repost from @soulfirefarm
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See you this Friday at 4 PM for Ask a Sista Farmer!

Interested in making the jump from urban living to rural homesteading? Then join us for ASK A SISTA FARMER - EPISODE #38

On Friday, July 1 at 4 PM ET we are joined by Nivek Anderson-Brown of Leaf and Bean Farm, a homesteader and micro vegetable farmer from Virginia. Nivek will teach us the ins and outs of homesteading for self-sufficiency, and talk about the journey from urban to rural life. 

Learn more and follow @Leafandbeanfarm and Leafandbean.farm 

***
Ask a Sista Farmer, FIRST Fridays, 4:00-4:40 Eastern
On Instagram Live @soulfirefarm 
Past Episodes www.soulfirefarm.org/ask-a-sista-farmer 
Apply to be a presenter here https://bit.ly/AASFapp 

Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? First Fridays, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your chat questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, business operations, and food preservation. At the end of the show we have a GIVEAWAY to the person who wins our quiz. To free ourselves we must feed ourselves!

Ask A Sista Farmer centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to ask questions and share. Thank you. 

Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks

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

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