The Mt. Olive Pickle Company is the largest privately held and independent pickle company in the United States. Based in Mount Olive, North Carolina, the company packs and sells over 230 million jars of pickles, peppers, and relishes each year.

The company occupies a 250-acre facility featuring 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space and employs over 1,200 people. They are the top-selling brand in the South, while Vlasic, owned by Conagra Brands, leads sales in the Midwest and West. In the fresh, refrigerated pickle market, Grillo's Pickles is also a significant competitor. Additionally, the H.J. Heinz facility in Holland, Michigan, operates the largest single pickle factory in the world.

The company has an impressive history, starting as a small-town operation in 1926, and a hundred years later, it generates an estimated annual gross revenue of $210.9 million.

However, the company's pickles apparently have thicker skins than the officials who run the firm. The company recently faced a dilemma after announcing its withdrawal from the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. The pickle company discovered that a video shown in North Carolina's pavilion included an image of the Confederate battle flag. According to Mt. Olive, they found the flag offensive.

The company announced its decision in a public statement, stating that it agreed to participate only after being invited to help showcase the state during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration:

“Mt. Olive Pickle Company was invited to participate in the North Carolina exhibit for the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., as part of America’s 250th celebration. We are proud of our North Carolina roots, and we agreed to be a part of an exhibit, as presented to us, that would represent the best of our great state.”

“We were unaware that an image of the Confederate flag was included in a video as part of this exhibit, and we have withdrawn our participation. Our company stands on values of human dignity, opportunity, and freedom.”

Local reports indicate that the North Carolina pavilion was organized by private sponsors after the state government chose not to participate because of the event's cost. Photos of the exhibit, which surfaced late last week, showed a video presentation that included the Confederate flag.

Following complaints, organizers promptly removed the video.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein condemned the display.

“This flag does not represent the North Carolina we love. America250 is about unity and bringing our nation together.”

Lorie Khatod, a spokesperson serving as the state lead for the North Carolina pavilion at the fair, informed the Washington Post that organizers “became aware of an unapproved image” on Friday.

“As soon as we were made aware, we immediately removed the video and began reviewing how it occurred. Our focus remains on celebrating America’s 250th birthday and North Carolina’s role in our nation’s history.”

Organizers have reported that the Confederate flag image was not part of the original plans for the North Carolina exhibit and are currently investigating how it was displayed.

Ok, just a minute. The state of North Carolina decided not to participate because of the cost? Really, Democrats waste money on everything. Was it really the cost, or was the Democratic Governor Josh Stein acting like a spoiled child again? The state then had to rely on private investors, who included the Confederate flag in their imagery.

I know that the Confederate flag is a controversial issue, but I also know that seeing it should not create such an over-exaggerated response. For Mt Olive to claim that it was the reason for suddenly pulling out of its part of the pavilion sponsorship is weak, to say the least.

Now the governor will launch an investigation, which will probably cost more than the entrance fee he deemed too expensive to pay to honor his state on the nation’s 250^th birthday. That, combined with Mt. Olive acting like a contemptible child over the image of a flag, has made North Caroline look like the Wimp state rather than the Tar Heel State.

I bought two jars of Vlasic’s Bread and Butter Pickles today. I needed something stronger than Mt. Olive’s Jalapeno Dill Spears.

Milt Harris——Bio and Archives

Milt spent thirty years as a sales and operations manager for an international manufacturing company. He is also a four-time published author on a variety of subjects. Now, he spends most of his time researching and writing about conservative politics and liberal folly.