Fresh Face: Lancaster Pickle Company

It’s never too late to find your calling. For Jason Ziegler, that calling is pickles.

A native of South Philadelphia, Jason moved to Lancaster at the age of 17 to live with his father. When he was 20 years old, he ran his own automobile dealership. But it was in 2010 that Jason, in a desire to move on from cars, decided to set his sights on pickles.

“I was one of the first in Lancaster County to have a retail store selling pickles,” says Jason. “Since then, there have been four or five other pickle companies that have arisen. What sets us aside from the rest is that we have what’s called a Clean Label product, meaning our pickles are made from scratch and contain no preservatives —only spring water and Lancaster County made spices.” 

In 2012, prior to opening a downtown storefront, Lancaster Pickle Company mainly operated out of Jason’s garage in Mountville, Pennsylvania. “It got so large that the state asked me to get a brick and mortar.” 

In addition to their signature pickles, Lancaster Pickle Company offers pretzels, chocolate, candy, nuts, and potato chips, which are also made right here in Lancaster with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. 

Like many entrepreneurs, Jason has had to weather the challenges and uncertainties of the global pandemic— including a three-month closure earlier this year. Fortunately, Lancaster Pickle Company’s patrons never wavered in their support of the business. 

 “COVID-19, I think, actually helped us,” says Jason. “When we reopened, the loyal customers that valued our product and employees stood behind us and came right back to our new location.” 

In August, Lancaster Pickle Company relocated to 318 North Queen Street (formerly, Then & Again Antiques). A dedicated website is currently in development, but in the interim, please be sure to visit their Facebook page for more information on product offerings, hours of operation, and other company updates.