Snack with Pride

For the past few years, Chef and Pride Pickles founder, Chad Kight has  traveled to 12 major cities across two continents to experience different Pride events. These celebrations are more than just parades—they are a reminder of the struggles our community has faced and the revolution that changed the world. Pride teaches all ages of LGBTQ+ individuals that their identity is not only valid but something to be celebrated.

That’s why Chef Chad has spent the last three years developing Pride Pickles, a set of six rainbow-colored jars of delicious, handcrafted pickles. The goal is simple: to create a sustainable way to raise funds for local Pride events and organizations—just like scouts sell cookies or popcorn, but with a tangy twist!

At the heart of the Pride Pickles is the idea of celebrating diversity. Just as the rainbow flag has become a symbol of pride, equality, and representation for the LGBTQ+ community, these colorful pickles reflect the spectrum of identities and experiences within that community. By transforming a traditionally simple, everyday item (pickles) into something vibrant and multi-dimensional, you’re making a playful yet profound statement: Just as pickles come in different shapes, sizes, and flavors, so too do the people who make up the queer community. Diversity should be embraced and celebrated, not only during Pride month but year-round.

This fundraiser aims to make activism fun, approachable, and accessible to a wider audience. By using something familiar and beloved (pickles) with a playful twist (rainbow colors), the project lowers the barrier to entry for engaging in LGBTQ+ advocacy. Like how Girl Scouts use cookies and Boy Scouts use popcorn, the focus isn’t just on selling a product — it's about creating an experience that builds community. People may not initially buy pickles for the cause, but they will associate the product with an opportunity to show support for LGBTQ+ rights and issues. It introduces activism in a lighthearted way, making it easier for individuals to engage with the community or support the cause without feeling overwhelmed or alienated.

Selling Pride Pickles allows people to literally taste their pride. The sensory experience of enjoying a rainbow pickle can create a deeper connection to the concept of pride and inclusivity. It's not just an abstract idea — it's something that can be shared, savored, and celebrated. When people buy and consume the product, they’re not only supporting a cause; they’re taking part in a shared moment of pride, uniting over a food item that symbolizes unity, joy, and visibility. This creates an emotional tie to the cause that is hard to replicate through typical fundraising efforts.

Pickles are an unexpected vehicle for something as profound as social justice, and that's part of the charm. The contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary emphasizes that pride can be expressed in surprising, unconventional ways. This is a philosophy of breaking barriers — just like how LGBTQ+ individuals often challenge societal norms, the pickles themselves challenge the conventional ways we think about food, fundraising, and activism. The juxtaposition of something as everyday as pickles with the vibrancy of the rainbow symbolizes the blending of the mundane with the magical, the personal with the collective.

The majority of the profits from these rainbow pickles would go towards supporting LGBTQ+ causes, such as local community centers, mental health services for LGBTQ+ individuals, or legal initiatives that fight for equality. This aligns with the spirit of organizations like the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, which also operate as support organizations focused on community and positive growth. The philosophy here is that the funds raised don’t just come from a transactional exchange — they represent a communal act of solidarity. Everyone who buys a pickle is contributing to a better, more inclusive world for everyone.

In essence, creating rainbow-colored pickles for a pride fundraiser is a playful, creative, and deeply symbolic way to marry activism with everyday life. It emphasizes visibility, inclusivity, and solidarity, while also making an important cause more accessible, enjoyable, and relevant to people of all walks of life.

Pride Pickles is an exciting and evolving culinary venture, currently in the process of meeting all the necessary requirements to bring you our delicious, shelf-stable pickled vegetables. As part of the rigorous food safety regulations set by the State of Missouri, several key steps must be completed and approved before a product can be labeled as "shelf stable." Chef Chad, the mastermind behind this unique project, has successfully completed specialized training through the University of Alabama, coupled with years of invaluable experience in the food service industry, ensuring that he has the expertise to deliver the highest-quality pickles directly to you.

However, there’s one final step before we can officially launch—laboratory testing. These tests are essential for ensuring the product meets all safety and quality standards. Once these final approvals are received, Pride Pickles will proudly offer a curated set of six handcrafted jars, each filled with vibrant, rainbow-colored pickled vegetables. Each jar will contain a minimum of 6 ounces of fresh, gourmet-canned vegetables, packed with bold flavors and textures that will delight your taste buds.

To make this experience even more special, we will also offer the Founder’s Set, which will include a beautifully crafted 6-inch pickle board—perfect for showcasing your pickles and elevating any gathering—and two additional refill sets of our mouthwatering pickles. With Pride Pickles, you’re not just buying a jar of pickles; you're becoming part of a fun and colorful culinary adventure. Stay tuned for more updates as we near the finish line, and get ready to savor the taste of Pride in every bite!

At Pride Pickles, we’re all about creating the most delicious and vibrant pickles, and that starts with the best ingredients! We know that great food begins with great produce, which is why we go the extra mile to prioritize locally sourced, organic ingredients whenever we can. Why settle for anything less when you can have the freshest, most flavorful veggies around? We’re passionate about supporting local farmers and communities, which means not only are you getting top-notch ingredients, but you’re also helping to grow and strengthen the local economy. From crunchy carrots to tangy bell peppers, every pickle we create is packed with the purest, most wholesome flavors nature has to offer. By using only the best, we can ensure that every jar we pack is bursting with freshness, quality, and a whole lot of pride. After all, when you choose high-quality ingredients, you’re not just making pickles—you’re pickling Pride!

At Pride Pickles, we’re all about bringing you pickles that are as unique and special as you are! That’s why our pickles are made in small batches by the one and only Chef Chad. He’s a pickle-making wizard, carefully crafting each jar to perfection with a whole lot of love and attention to detail. By working in small batches, Chef Chad can keep his eye on every single green bean, carrot, and red onion to make sure they’re pickled just right. He can taste, adjust, and fine-tune along the way, ensuring that every jar is bursting with the perfect balance of flavor. We believe that small batch production is the secret sauce to creating exceptional specialty foods. It allows us to focus on quality, freshness, and creativity without rushing the process. No mass production here, at least for now..  just handcrafted goodness in every jar! So, when you open a jar of Pride Pickles, you’re not just getting a snack—you’re getting a product that’s been carefully crafted with care and pride. And who doesn’t love a pickle made with passion and Pride?

At Pride Pickles, we believe that every jar should deliver the same high-quality experience you'd expect from a top-tier restaurant. That’s why our pickles are crafted with restaurant-quality standards in mind. Chef Chad, the mastermind behind every batch,  is currently the head chef at Soiree by Annie Laurie's in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Rainbow Pickles appear on the menu. A true pickle enthusiast with an eye for perfection. He uses traditional techniques and a bit of culinary magic to create pickles that are packed with flavor, freshness, and an unmistakable touch of class. Chef Chad’s dedication to craftsmanship means each jar is filled with the kind of flavor you’d expect from a fine-dining experience—so why not bring that top-notch quality to your own table? We believe this dedication to excellence is what truly sets us apart from other specialty food producers. From our kitchen to your home, every pickle is a little masterpiece, made with the kind of care and expertise that only a restaurant-quality chef can bring.