Who we are
I’m Jeff Fickling — aka “Fick” — and I have always loved pickles and have dreamed of creating my own recipes for as long as I can remember. Fast-forward to now, together with my wife Meredeth, we decided to turn that dream into a reality. With a combined 45 years in food and hospitality, our careers have been all about serving up great meals, crafting unforgettable experiences, and perfecting service in the dining room and flavors in the kitchen. Yet one thing was missing—a fresher, locally made alternative to one of our all-time favorite foods: pickles!
So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work in our home kitchen, determined to create the perfect balance of crunch, tang, and bold flavor using real, high-quality ingredients. No artificial junk, no shortcuts—just damn good pickles made the way they should be.
That’s how Fick’s Picks Brinery came to life—a name born from a lifelong passion and a commitment to quality. Every jar is handcrafted in small batches, bursting with exciting flavors and designed to deliver the perfect pickle experience.
From our kitchen to yours, we hope you love them as much as we do.
How We Sell Our Pickles
If you’re wondering how we can make and sell our pickles without a brick and mortar store—great question! We operate under South Dakota’s Cottage Food Laws, which allow small producers like us to sell homemade, non-hazardous food products directly to customers.
That means every jar of Fick’s Picks is made right in our home kitchen, using fresh, high-quality ingredients and time-honored pickling methods. We follow all state guidelines to ensure our pickles are safe, delicious, and legally sold only within South Dakota.
Want to learn more about South Dakota’s cottage food regulations? You can check out the official rules here: South Dakota Cottage Food Law
If you have any questions, feel free to ask—we’re always happy to chat about pickles and the process behind them!
Our Process
Every jar of our pickles is crafted with love and a commitment to quality that’s been refined over decades. Our process starts with thorough recipe research, where we experiment with flavors and textures until we nail that perfect balance of crunch, tang, and a hint of heat. We take pride in selecting only the freshest, high-quality ingredients—because these are the same ingredients we love to enjoy ourselves.
Once our recipes are perfected, we move on to the canning process. Each batch is carefully prepared using tested canning techniques that ensure both safety and flavor retention. We meticulously clean, cut, and brine our ingredients before packing them into jars, where they’re sealed and ready to be enjoyed. The entire process, from recipe testing to the final seal, is handled with the same attention to detail we’d use for a meal served in our own homes and in our restaurants.
It’s all about putting the stuff we love to eat into the jars we sell, ensuring every bite delivers that same delightful taste. With no shortcuts or artificial additives, our small-batch, flavor-packed pickles are made just the way they should be—crafted with care, expertise, and a relaxed, homegrown spirit. Enjoy the taste of our passion in every jar!
