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Pickling Is A Big Dill

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Pickle Me Pete owner Pete Starr of Plainview

Whether you like them on a sandwich, fried or straight out of the jar, pickles are an American classic. But for true pickle lovers, settling for the bargain brand at the grocery store just doesn’t cut it. And that’s why pickle enthusiasts go to Pickle Me Pete.

Owned by Plainview’s Pete Starr, the Hicksville-based company stands out in the niche market, offering pickle paramours high quality products in a variety of flavors.

“I love pickles and a lot of people love pickles so I offer a unique product that most people love,” Starr said. “I love being the pickle man.”

Starr’s passion for pickles began at a young age. His family is from eastern Europe and he said pickling is “in the blood.” His grandparents showed him the basics of making pickles when he was a child, and as a cooking aficionado, he always loved to experiment with new flavors.

But Starr wasn’t always the pickle pioneer he is today. He spent much of his early career working as a CPA for large firms in Manhattan. He said it was a job he was good at, but never really enjoyed. In 2009, when the firm he was working at closed, he decided to start selling his pickles at a market in Coney Island. His pickles were an instant hit.

“I saw that there was a demand for it, so I did that for the summer and the next year I did a bunch of events around Long Island,” Starr said. “Every year it grew and grew. Now, I do 150 street fairs and festivals every year, along with a few farmer’s markets.” Now a full time venture, Starr and his Pickle Me Pete stand can be found at fairs, markets and festivals all over the metro area. Starr’s currently spending most of his time at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, as well as at his store and warehouse at 53 Bloomingdale Rd. in Hicksville, a location he took over in April. As a Plainview resident, Starr said the Hicksville location was ideal because it was local and provided him ample space to store, as well as sell, his products.

PicklePete__120915BStarr’s pickle flavors range from the old fashioned and tame to the bold and inventive. There are standards like kosher dill and half sour, as well as specialty flavors like ridiculously spicy, bread and butter chips and sweet chipotle chips. While his forte is pickles, Starr also sells olives and pickled vegetables. He also has party platters available.

While the pickle making process is relatively easy (it’s basically boiling water, vinegar and salt and pouring it over cucumbers packed tightly in a jar), getting fresh ingredients, the right temperature and the recipe correct makes all the difference. Though he’s been pickling regularly for six years, Starr said everything is still a work in progress.

“I do change recipes from time to time and work with different flavors,” Starr said. “It depends on what’s available, I have to adjust the recipe based on the cucumbers I get.”

While he enjoys being his own boss, running a pickle business comes with its fair share of challenges.

“Getting my name out there and differentiating myself from others is hard,” he said. “People always think pickle products are the same, but once they try my product they know I’m better. It’s about standing out in their mind so when they go out to another event they remember me [specifically], not just some pickle guy.”

As gourmet dills and chips become more and more accessible thanks to the increase in artisanal shops and markets, there’s plenty of competition in the pickle world. But Starr said the secret to standing out is all about having the best product, and the right strategy.

“It’s just a matter of having the best and freshest product,” Starr said. “And also being in the right place at the right time. It’s a matter of knowing where to go and how to differentiate yourself. If you are the best, people will come to you.”

Find out more about Pickle Me Pete at www.picklemepete.com or by calling 516-531-3135.