Mt. Olive Pickle Co., First UMC Peanut Crew recognized for community service

The Mt. Olive Pickle Co. and the First United Methodist Church Peanut Crew have been recognized by the town board for service to the town and community.

Town Commissioner Vicky Darden, who established the program to recognize community service, presented the awards during the board’s Tuesday, April 11, session.

Town Clerk Sherry Davis read the introductions to the awards.

Established in 1926, Mt. Olive Pickle Co. was organized by local business leaders who saw opportunity for a bumper crop of cucumbers that was going to waste, Davis read.

“They reasoned that a new market for area farmers would benefit the whole town,” she said. “The group of investors, 37 that first year, named the company for their hometown and launched it with one acre of land, a 3,600-square-foot building and $19,000 in capital.

“Today Mount Olive it the best-selling brand of pickles, peppers and relishes in the country with a market share exceeding 30 percent.”

The company has grown from that one acre to more than 240 acres in Wayne County and more than 1.6 million square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space and employs 1,100 people, Davis added.

“Because of the company’s roots, it maintains a deep and abiding connection to its community, supporting local nonprofit initiatives and hundreds of organizations large and small throughout the region,” she said.

Mt. Olive Pickle Co. has enjoyed a relationship with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina since that organization’s founding in 1980, Davis said.

However, the company also is known for the smaller donations of funds, products and merchandise from its company store to support civic clubs, churches, schools and youth sports programs, she added.

“In all for 2022, the company contributed nearly $1 million to community projects and programs,” Davis said.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company were Bill Bryan, Mt. Olive Pickle Co. executive chairman, and Lynn Williams, company public relations manger.

Darden thanked them for all they and the company do for the town and community.

“When I go out of town and people say where are you from, I say Mount Olive,” Darden said. “They say where’s that.

“I say don’t you eat Mt. Olive pickles, and they say oh, yeah. So that makes me feel good just to see that in the stores and everywhere that I go. I just want to thank you all so very much for what you do.”

Darden added that the company does a lot that no one knows about so she wanted to express her appreciation.

“This (award) is our love token from the town to you all,” she concluded.

Davis also presented the background on the First United Methodist Church Peanut Crew.

Martin Weeks accepted the award on behalf of the Peanut Crew.

A group of 20 to 30 men began this ministry more than 50 years ago, Davis said.

The process begins with a delivery of raw peanuts and pallets of jars and lids, she said.

The peanuts are soaked and deep fried and placed in labeled jars that are vacuum sealed for freshness.

“They cook the first Tuesday of every month,” Davis added. “They offer no salt, light salt and regular salt varieties. The peanuts are sold in cases of 12 seven-ounce jars for $35.”

The jars can be picked up at the church, and they are shipped worldwide, Davis said.

All proceeds from this ministry go back into the community, she said.

“They assist individuals with utilities, emergency food needs, personal crisis and yearly scholarships are given to local rising college students,” Davis added.

Weeks has a heart of gold, Darden added.

“I just want to thank you so very much,” she said. “I can go to them and say Martin can you do this or that? You never say no. You say we will fix it.

“The guys who help you, they are all on point. You all do so much for the community.”