06/06/2025
I won’t mention the name of the retailer (it’s a doozy and would be a huge accomplishment if The Garden of Eva made it onto their shelves!), but I had the chance to pitch to their 4 buyers. I felt so excited to share the brand story and my experiences pickling and preserving with my Southern-born mom (Virginia!) and family. And to watch the buyers’ reactions as they tried the products. 😄 I shared a story from my childhood and was, in that moment, transported back.
My parents would invite people over for semi-formal dinners during the Christmas and Easter holidays. I can see the linen tablecloths, the fine bone china, the formal table settings, and the pickled watermelon rind that we made sitting in a pretty cut glass bowl. It was usually placed near the meats, which were usually some combination (depending on the season) of goose, ham, duck, and pork. My parents were signalling to the guests (along with an explanation) that the pickled watermelon rind accompanied meats. Guests had never tasted it and always LOVED it. That cut glass bowl was usually refilled a few times!
I felt so proud to discuss my family’s Southern food traditions through the gorgeous condiments and preserves that I shared with the buyers. The Garden of Eva is as much about rich culinary traditions as it is about locally sourced onions and using surplus produce to reduce food waste.
The buyers seemed engaged and we had what felt like an engaging conversation that went beyond things you have to cover, such as shelf life. I don’t know if our gorgeous products will make it onto the shelves of this venerable retailer, but I will say this - I’ve done my share of pitching, and yesterday’s session was the most positive, engaging experience I’ve ever had.