About
The Good Food Guild relies on the expertise of the pickles community to develop, revise and set standards for the category. As farming and pickling techniques evolve, so do our standards. Read on to learn what those standards are and meet the picklers of the Good Food Guild.
Standards
In order to join the Good Food Guild, pickle companies must meet the following standards for at least 50% of their product line:
- Made in the USA or US territories.
- Free of artificial ingredients, including colors, flavors and preservatives.
- Free of genetically modified ingredients.
- Made with domestic, non-petroleum based vinegar, where vinegar is used.
- Made with ingredients that are foraged or grown:
- Locally.*
- With respect for seasonality.*
- Without the use of synthetic inputs, including herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers.
- Made by a crafter that is an upstanding member of the good food community, committed to equity and inclusion in all levels of their business,** as exemplified through integrating these practices:
- Creating a safe and healthy work environment where employees receive a fair wage, are safe and respected at work and have access to the resources they need to keep themselves healthy.
- Offering a diversity, equity, and inclusion training to staff members and/or leadership annually.
- Thoughtfully acknowledging the heritage of culturally-specific food on websites, packaging and/or marketing materials.
- For the small percentage of Good Food community that operates on a significantly larger scale, meeting additional criteria related to board diversity, maternity leave and employment practices.**
*Ingredients that make up less than 2% of the product, such as spices, may be sourced from farther afield.
**Check if you are in the 2% of companies meeting the Good Food Foundation definition of large scale, and review the addition criteria on the Rules & Regulations page.
Meet the picklers of the Good Food Guild and apply to join.