The Role of Pickles in War

Happy International Pickle Week!

Established in 1949, International Pickle Week runs around the third week of May every year to celebrate the contribution pickles have made to human resiliency and courage. It might be easy to assume that this is yet another fake holiday that pops up on our Google calendars, making us question its validity. But the truth behind International Pickle Week lies in pickles' contribution as a wartime staple.

Pickles have been a mainstay of revolutionary resistance for centuries. As humans discovered they could extend the life of their food by preserving it in brine, pickles allowed people in ancient Mesopotamia to become more resilient during times of hardship, such as famine and war. Pickles have been instrumental to humanity's fortitude and survival in wartime, a tradition that began with a man hoping to impress his girlfriend.

In 48 BCE, Julius Caesar was smitten by his new lover, Cleopatra. One could argue that the motivation behind their affair was Caesar's desire to solidify a stable rule in Egypt, and Cleopatra's need for a strong Roman military alliance to eliminate her brother's competition for power. But at the end of the day, this writer likes to think that wartime decisions were made based on limerance. When Cleopatra boasted about the benefits of pickles as her secret to beauty and health, Julius adopted this belief and fed them to his troops to keep the men strong and increase their stamina.

Years later, the reputation of pickles remained among generals and military troops. In 1809, Napoleon Bonaparte believed they provided significant health benefits and invigorated his troops. He offered a 12,000-franc prize for improved food preservation methods, leading to Nicholas Appert’s discovery of canning and heating to preserve pickles and other foods.

By the mid-twentieth century, pickles were still considered necessities during periods of hardship and strife. During World War II, 40 percent of the U.S. pickle production was allocated to the military, highlighting how important they were seen to be for the troops. Across the pond, the British were also solidifying pickles as an important resource. Piccalilli, an English adaptation of an Indian pickle relish, was a symbol of plenty as battles raged, especially over the long winters. In war-torn England, cold storage spaces called Larders were filled with Piccalilli, as it was critical to preserve locally grown summer produce for the colder months.

After World War II, Pickle Packers International established International Pickle Week around Memorial Day in May to honor the incredible work that pickles did to sustain the military and boost morale.

How will you be celebrating this sacred holiday? With a crunchy dill? A sweet and sour relish?

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