The M.A. Gedney Pickling Company was established in Minneapolis in 1881 by a man named Matthias Gedney. The Gedney Company contracted with hundreds of Minnesota farmers to grow the cucumbers used for their pickle products. Many of the farmers, in turn, ended up paying their children to pick the cucumbers as part of their summer chores, using the money to pay for school clothes and other needed items for the family.

In the later 20th century, the Gedney Company identified itself as the Minnesota Pickle. The company partnered with the Minnesota State Fair to market it’s “State Fair” Pickle line, taking winning recipes from the Fair and selling them in stores. Producer John Gwinn tells this story of the M.A. Gedney Pickling Company and its impact on our state.

This episode was written and produced by John Gwinn. Additional edit and mix support provided by Mason Butler.

MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.