Factory Tours
Tour Week 2024 was a huge success!
We will NOT be conducting any more tours in 2024. Our next tour week will coincide with the 2025 St. Joe Pickle Festival, date to be determined.
If you would like to be notified via email when our 2025 tour week will take place, please visit the Contact Us page on our website and fill in your name and email address. In the comments section, simply write “Tour 2025” and we will notify you when more information is available.
Learn about the early history of pickle-making in St. Joe and see the original home of Ralph and Anne Sechler, who started the company in 1921 under the name "St. Joe Valley Pickles." Outdoors, you will see many of our pickle storage vats where cucumbers are received and cured. If you're lucky, you may even get to watch as fresh cucumbers are received and dumped into the tanks! Inside the plant, you will watch as pickles are washed, cut, cooked, sweetened, packed, and labelled, all while learning more about the company's history and the time-tested techniques we use daily to produce our many delicious products. After your tour, you will be welcomed into our Showroom, where you can shop our entire selection of products and see even more fun artifacts in our Pickle Museum.
FAQ's
What are the clothing requirements for the tour?
Everyone on the tour must wear shoes that cover the entire foot with no holes (tops, bottoms, toes, heels, and sides), and shirts that cover the shoulders, armpits, and torso. Frayed clothing is not allowed, so please wear pants/shorts with a hem, or trim any loose fibers before taking a tour. Crocs, sandals, dress shoes that expose the top of the foot, slippers, and tank tops are NOT acceptable tour attire. When in doubt: gym shoes and T-shirts are perfect tour attire. Hairnets and beard nets are also required and will be provided at no charge by Sechler's Pickles.
Jewelry (with the exception of wedding bands without stones) and watches will need to be either covered or removed before the tour. This includes, but is not limited to, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, facial piercings, and pins. Hats are allowed, but any jewelry attached to the hat will need to be removed. We understand that wedding rings are sometimes “stuck” and will provide gloves to cover them if necessary.
Why are the clothing requirements so strict?
Our tour guests walk directly through our processing facility, with no separation from the food production areas. The FDA is very strict about food production facilities and requires that everyone who enters the facility to abide by their clothing requirements, whether they are employees or guests.
How long is the tour?
The tours depart approximately every half hour, and last between 15 and 20 minutes.
Do I need to make a reservation to take a tour?
No reservation is required for small groups, but larger groups (10+ people) are encouraged to contact us either via phone (1-800-332-5461) or by email (showroom@sechlerspickles.com) to let us know how many people you plan on bringing and reserve a spot. Please be aware that if your group has more than 15 people, we will break you into 2 or more small tour groups to make it easier for everyone to see and hear their tour guide. Retirement communities, nursing homes, 4-H Clubs, and other organizations are welcome to make a reservation!
Note: All children MUST be accompanied by an adult to take a tour. Any organization bringing a large group of children without their parents present must provide enough chaperones so that there are no more than 5 children per chaperone, and all children in the group must be in 3rd grade or older.
THE AGE REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO CHILDREN WHO VISIT WITH THEIR OWN PARENT OR GUARDIAN. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are more than welcome to bring their own children of any age for a tour.
Is the tour handicap accessible?
Yes, the tour and our Showroom are handicap accessible. You are more than welcome to bring walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, or any other mobility device. Please note, however, that there are no places to stop and sit during the tour. Unless you are able to be on your feet walking for the entire duration of the tour, we highly recommend you bring a wheelchair or scooter. There are outdoor benches to sit and rest outside of the facility, but there is no seating available inside our Showroom. Please plan accordingly.
Can I take photos during the tour?
Guests are not permitted to take photos or videos of any kind during the tour. You are welcome to take photos outside of our facility and inside the Showroom.
If you work for a media company and would like to conduct an interview or take promotional photography, please contact us BEFORE tour week at showroom@sechlerspickles.com or 260-337-5461.
I suffer from asthma. Will I have issues on the tour?
Between the vinegar, spices, peppers, and other ingredients, many people find that it can be difficult at times to breathe inside the factory. We have found that medical face masks, like the ones used during the COVID pandemic, make it much easier to breathe and recommend you bring one if you think you will need it.
Is there a place to picnic after our tour?
We do have a single picnic table at our facility for guests to use. If you have a large group, we recommend you visit Wild Cherry Park in St. Joe to make use of their many picnic tables and playground equipment. It is located at 5933 CR 59 St. Joe, IN 46785, just a quick 2 minute drive from our facility.
Where is the nearest gas station?
May guests from out of town do not realize just how small St. Joe is until they get here. The nearest gas station to our South is Miller’s Shell Mart on State Road 1 in Spencerville (4.4 miles away). The nearest station to the North is Marathon Gas on U.S. 6 in Butler (7.3 miles away). The nearest town to our West is Auburn (11.2 miles away) and to the East is Hicksville, OH (8.8 miles away).
Where should I park?
We have 2 parking lots at our facility (see map below). If you are able, please be considerate of other guests and leave the spots closest to the Showroom Entrance open for handicapped individuals. If you are bringing a camper or other large vehicle, please do not park in the lot closest to the Showroom Entrance. Busses with multiple passengers are welcome to unload near the door, but please park along County Road 56 when empty.
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