2400 BC: Archeologists and anthropologists believe that the ancient Mesopotamians pickled

850 BC: Aristotle praised the healing effects of cured cucumbers

15^th century: Pickles were brought to the New World by Christopher Columbus, who is known to have grown cucumbers for the purpose of pickling on the island of Haiti.

1606 AD: Pickles were being produced at home and commercially in Virginia

18^th century: Thomas Jefferson notes: "On a hot day in Virginia, I know nothing more comforting than a fine spiced pickle, brought up trout-like from the sparkling depths of the aromatic jar below the stairs of Aunt Sally's cellar."

2001: The first annual Pickle Day celebration, NYC.

Random pickle facts:

·      5,200,000 pounds of pickles are consumed annually in the United States. That's nine pounds per person.

·      According to the U.S. Supreme Court, pickles are technically a "fruit" of the vine (like tomatoes), but they are generally known as a vegetable.

· Approximately 100,000 to 125,000 acres are devoted to growing pickling cucumbers in the United States. They are grown in more than 30 states, with the biggest producers being California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.