Benjamin Franklin once quipped, “Hunger is the best pickle.” 

Oh, how true and multi-layered his words were as we still today struggle with our jar-opening dilemma, battling growing hunger pangs with each fraught effort! Surely, however, we trust the mouth-puckering morsel that awaits inside is worth all the turmoil. 

Well, the next time you find yourself in this “pickle,” be sure to consult your local Mast General Store or Mast Store Online. There, you’ll discover Silicone Non-Slip Jar Openers in an array of colorful designs.

These handy products will help you conquer a troublesome pickle jar – or any similarly canned foe – without breaking a sweat. They’ll even stick to most any kitchen surface, including microwaves, refrigerators, windows, and stainless steel appliances, for convenient storage, and, best of all, they’re Made in USA. And what a product to represent American ingenuity! 

OK, so now that our “pickle” has been resolved and the jar is open, where do we take these vinegary veggies from here? We happen to be in luck! Mast Store’s very own Willy Wonka (his official job title is Candy Buyer, but we don’t think he’ll mind this whimsical honorific) Stefano Tringali has personally dubbed 2024, “The YEAR of the PICKLE.” 

Stefano noted recent shifts in candy trends are showcasing sour, savory, spicy, and straight-up pickle-flavored tastes.

His observation is spot-on, but it’s also broader than candy and sweets. Pickles have been popping up throughout our Mast Stores in many forms and in every department lately. 

With that said, let’s examine this year’s pickle proliferation in more detail and bite into some of our favorite Mast Store pickle-themed products that run the gamut from candy, to apparel, to what’s quickly becoming the most popular recreational sport in the nation – pickleball!

Candy

Since we’ve already mentioned “pickly” candy trends, let’s start there. And let’s start BIG:

The Giant Gummy Pickle from GGB Candies comes in at the size of a true cucumber! This 4.5” by 1.25” Made in USA gummy weighs in at 4.5 ounces. While its dill pickle flavor is also pickle-esque, its texture will remind you that it’s a gummy and not a gherkin. 

Good golly, Good Lolli! It’s a Dill Pickle Lollipop! This treat captures the savory, zesty, garlickly goodness of its namesake by using bits of real dehydrated pickles. Available only in Mast Store candy sections, it’s one sucker that will certainly leave you smacking your lips with each lick.

Sour Punch Bites offer a guessing game of Pickle Roulette in a bag that features pickle-flavored pieces amongst more everyday favorites like Green Apple, Lemon Lime, and Watermelon. Despite their similar colors, we’re sure you’ll know it when you pop a surprise pickle Sour Punch Bite! Find these only at our in-store candy departments.

Get ready for an explosion with Gupperz Gummy Liquid-Filled Popperz! The brand’s Poppin’ Pickles variety features a juicy, Sweet Pickle-flavored center that will have you thinking you’re drinking pickle juice straight from the jar. Head to your nearest Mast Store and ask for Poppin’ Pickles Gupperz.

In a few Mast Store locations, you’ll even find Pickle-flavored Fudge! The boldest fudge lovers and most diehard pickle fanatics will get a kick from this gooey treat. 

Also, Christmas will be here before you know it! Be on the lookout this holiday season for an edible gummy Christmas pickle ornament! The Christmas pickle tradition has ambiguous cultural origins. It is often tied to German folklore although that notion is widely disputed. Some historical retail research says that it likely began with fruit and vegetable-themed Christmas ornaments sold at Woolworth’s in the 1880s that were imported from Germany and included pickles. Regardless of where and how this tradition began, this edible pickle ornament will be a delicious addition to your family’s tree this year!

Mast Store Provisioners

The Mast Store’s own food label, Mast Store Provisioners, is a terrific source of pickled delicacies! With fresh takes on Southern classics, Mast Store Provisioners’ pickles may not be exactly what your granny stocked in her cellar, but they’d surely make her proud the pickling tradition is alive and well. 

Here’s a rundown of pickles and pickled provisions fit for occasions ranging from fancy charcuterie parties, summer cookouts, casual picnics, and Sunday suppers.

Beet Balls: Sweet, Southern, tangy, and all-natural. Slice them up to serve in a salad or as an appetizer. Let them complement a main course as a side dish or eat them straight out of the jar. Ramp up the intensity with their Spicy counterparts if you dare.

Sweet Pickle Relish: An ideal spread on all-American cookout classics like hamburgers and hot dogs. Also, a great addition to tuna salad for your next picnic.

Pickled Watermelon Rinds: More than just being resourceful enough to use the entirety of a watermelon, sweet, crispy pickled rinds put a chef’s kiss on side dishes paired with beef, pork, poultry, or fish. Transform them as a bonus to a sauce or dressing for an enhanced Southern flair.

Pickled Okra: Some like it fried. Some like it grilled. Few like it fresh (Eww, it’s slimy!), but we prefer it pickled. The standard variety has plenty of spicy dill and garlic to provide a kick straight out of the jar or tossed into a gumbo, while the Hot version subtly amplifies the heat with pepper.

Vidalia Onion Relish: Stop slicing, dicing, and chopping whole onions, and dry your tears! Mellow and sweet, vidalia onion relish makes an excellent, easily accessible topping for grilled bacon cheeseburgers and chilidogs. 

Dilly Green Beans: Some know them simply as Dilly Beans, but whatever you call them, they’re a Southern tradition! Dill pickled green beans have given generations an appetizing way to enjoy a garden staple all year round. Try these for yourself as a side or snack!

Four Bean Salad: Beans, beans, beans, and MORE beans! This pickled bean quartet features green, yellow, kidney, and northerns, and pairs well with lighter fare main courses, like chicken and fish.

Spiced Peaches: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled… Peaches? Sure, why not?! And they’re amazing alongside your favorite simple summer desserts, like vanilla ice cream and pound cake, or as a topping on breakfast waffles or pancakes.

Chow Chow: Whether you consider it a cousin to relish or a category all its own, this condiment certainly speaks with a Southern twang. This pickled combo of cabbage, onions, and peppers contributes nicely to black-eyed peas, pinto beans, collard or turnip greens, or heartier fare like burgers and hotdogs. Try it for yourself in its Mild, Hot, and Sweet forms.

Pickle Chips: Ahhh… And now for the star of the show – the pickle chip! The perfect, bite-sized cut and the ideal shape for garnishing pretty much anything. Take home a jar of one of each to discover your favorite take: Sweet Fire, Bread and Butter, Spicy Sweet Dill, or Hot Jalapeno Dill.

But, oh wait! Don’t all these tasty recommendations lead us back to our original pickle problem created by pesky jars? Even once they’re open, how’s a person supposed to fish out the contents? As delicious as pickles are, no one wants vinegar-scented fingers or, worse still, a hand trapped inside a jar! Well, have no fear – the Fridge Fork  is a handy, pint-sized tool designed specifically to help you reach your favorite condiments. It also conveniently comes with a holder that fits around the lip of most any jar thanks to a stretchy, flexible silicone band. You’ll be easily navigating the depths of every pickle jar with a Fridge Fork!

Pickleball

The Mast Store is now serving up gear and accessories for the sport that’s all the rage: Pickleball! 

Find premium paddles designed to suit the games of beginners through advanced players like the SLK Latitude 2.0 or EVO 2.0 Max Control and pro-level balls for indoor and outdoor play in four-packs featuring SLK’s Hybrid+ and Pro S1 series.

If you’re just getting into the swing of things, the SLK Reflex Pickleball Bundle by Selkirk Sport has everything you’ll need to get started on your local courts, including paddles, balls, and a sling bag. Want a more leisurely experience? The Deluxe 2-Player Pickleball Game Set from Master Toys is a recreational kit ideal for backyard play with your family and friends this summer.

Of course, you’ll also need some new wheels in order to maneuver effortlessly between the lines and at the net. OluKai’s ‘Anau for Men and Women are stylishly constructed to optimize your performance on the court and get you around town comfortably until match time.

And what better way to sport your pickleball pride than with a new outfit and accessories? The Mast Store also has its own pickleball tee as well as stickers, ornaments for the Holidays, and games like Desktop Pickleball and the World’s Smallest Pickleball Set.

With this diversity of pickle-themed goodies, who could deny that 2024 is the Year of the Pickle? At the Mast Store, we don’t think of these puckery treats in a sour way at all, but rather as means to get us all from cookouts to courtside to the candy section while savoring everything that summer has to offer!