I-69 Heritage Corridor - DeKalb County
David Sechler
 
  David Sechler holds a jar of pickled banana peppers -- Photo by Ilze Akerbergs
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David Sechler -- Family pickle business

Dave has been working in his grandfather's "pickle patch" since he was 10 years old. Dave Sechler has taken over his father’s pickle business, which his father had carried on from his ancestors, making Dave the third generation of picklers in his family. He prides himself in maintaining his grandfather’s traditional way of making pickles.

His speciality that makes him different from other picklers, says Dave, is his sweetened pickle series, which also includes green tomatoes, banana peppers, and other vegetables.

Dave's pickle business plays an important part in the St. Joe community, employing 25 people full time, plus a whole crew of seasonal workers. The scouts, 4-H clubs, and girls' softball team sell pickles for their fund-raising projects. His business was the inspiration for a community festival centered around the theme of pickles, the St. Joe’s Pickle Festival. The festival gathers all generations together for music, food, school exhibits, and the increasingly popular pickle derby, where kids use their imagination to dress up cucumbers, attach wheels to them, and race them down a special pickle-racing plank.

Hear Dave talk:
About making a good pickle Listen to Dave's story