Readers respond to pickle story

Who would have known that Clark County was so packed with pickle lovers?

On Aug. 1, several View Newspapers ran a story on Sunshine Fresh, Inc., a pickle factory operating in North Las Vegas. Many readers were caught in a pickle when they discovered the story did not include the plant's telephone number.

Unfortunately, no one at the View or at the pickle plant for that matter knew the number wasn't available through telephone directory assistance. When pickle lovers couldn't find the phone number on their own, they called the newspaper office for help.

The phones rang constantly all day Wednesday. Calls continued trickling in on Thursday, Friday and even Monday. Some people wanted pickles, while others wanted to see the plant for themselves. Most callers wanted to talk, both about their love for pickles and their homesickness for places back East.

At the pickle plant, the story was the same.

"What I'm surprised at is what strikes a cord with people," said Michael Rosenblum, the director of the North Las Vegas facility." Most of the people who are calling us are saying 'I'm from Brooklyn or I'm from New York.' They see us as a little piece of New York that's coming to the Valley and they just want to talk about how thrilled they are about it."

Rosenblum is used to nostalgic people who stop him at trade shows to talk about the way their grandmother used to make pickles in the basement. He wasn't all that surprised to see Las Vegas residents reacting the same way.

"I spent 45 minutes on the phone with a guy from Brooklyn. He loves the casinos and the weather, but he's homesick."

The pickle maker said for some people food, the way mom used to make it, can help.

Sunshine Fresh, Inc. receptionist Linda Pacheco said she was asked all kinds of questions about the pickle plant. While most just wanted to buy pickles others asked about tours and employment possibilities.

The plant does not sell pickles to the public. They also don't sell bottled pickles in grocery or convenience stores. They sell directly to distributors who transfer the products to local delis and restaurants. To find the pickles, try a local deli.

Stanley Schwartz an employee at Celebrity Deli, 4055 S. Maryland Parkway, said the deli began carrying Sunshine Fresh, Inc. pickles long before the North Las Vegas plant was built.

"We always carried Sunshine Pickles. We used to get them through a distributor," he said. "The only thing I need that they don't seem to carry out here is red pepper hulls."

Pickles are served with sandwiches or they can be purchased by the pound. Schwartz said a one-pound container full of pickles will run about $3.95.

As for tours, Rosenblum had enough calls that he's having a trial tour to gauge public interest. Anyone who wants to tour the plant can call to get on a list for a tour this Friday at 11 a.m. Rosenblum said he can handle a group of about 20 that day. If there's enough demand, he may consider running a monthly tour.

For more information about Sunshine Fresh, Inc., call them at 838-4691.