Michelle Wallace’s kitchen has always been full of pickles. Recently, however, the pickles have broken out of her kitchen, and are now a fixture of the Claremont Farmers Market. Like many vendors, Wallace’s biweekly stand began as a passion project — the farmers market gave her the platform to share her love for pickling with the Claremont community.
Founded over 25 years ago, each Sunday the Claremont village shuts down Harvard Avenue to host an array of local vendors, artisans and small-business owners from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For many students, the weekly farmers market offers a sunny respite from the hustle and bustle of classes.
“Going to the farmer’s market is a nice way to actually interact with other Claremont families, and it’s a reminder that this is a real city and a real town. It’s not just the colleges.”
“I think it’s a really fun way to get out of the school bubble where you’re only seeing people from the 5Cs,” Maristella Valore-Caplan SC ’28 said. “Going to the farmer’s market is a nice way to actually interact with other Claremont families, and it’s a reminder that this is a real city and a real town. It’s not just the colleges.”
Every other Sunday, you can find Wallace and Bex Dominguez — sisters, pickle connoisseurs and long-time vendors — sharing their prized pickles on the corner of Bonita and Harvard.
Wallace, the owner of Pete’s Picklin’, began the business with her husband in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wallace recalled how, as the COVID-19 lockdown lifted, she realised she didn’t want to return to the monotonous banking lifestyle. So, she took her family’s hobby and built it into a family business.
Their pickles — which were once restricted to stocking stuffers and dinner party gifts — are now professionally crafted and widely available across Southern California. The Claremont Farmers Market served as a first step toward their journey of transforming a family passion into a beloved treat sold across Southern California.
“We never thought that COVID would turn into this,” Dominguez said. “Something good came out of something really bad.”
Family values seep into every nook and cranny of the business. The Pete’s Picklin’ namesake is Wallace’s pet chihuahua, Pete, who is featured on every label sticker. Wallace’s son-in-law designed the labels. Wallace’s husband’s family has passed down the craft of pickling for generations.
“My husband’s family is from Minnesota; they must have been canning and canning their whole lives as well,” Wallace said. “And we got it here in California, so we’re thankful. I taught my daughter, my sister and my mom, so it is a family business.”
To Wallace, the best part of selling at farmers markets is getting to interact with her customers and seeing their reactions to her family’s generational recipes.
“My favorite is just hearing them say this is the best pickle I’ve ever had,” Wallace said. “Or just seeing them light up. That really makes me happy.”
Kelly Palmer and David Myers, two Pete’s Picklin’ customers, shared that they have been coming to the Claremont Farmer’s Market for over six years, ever since they moved to Claremont. After sampling pickles from the stand, the natural next step was to purchase a jar or two.
“I mean, who doesn’t love a pickle?” Palmer said.
“Exactly. Good point,” Myers said. “It’s delicious. And then we had a taste, and it was fantastic.”
Beyond their interactions with customers, Wallace and Dominguez also expressed gratitude for the network of support with other artisans and small business owners who regularly participate in the Claremont Farmers Market.
“It’s a whole new set of friends,” Dominguez said. “We help each other out at different markets. I’m like, hey, do you need help? Do you need help? I will work for them randomly.”
Through these experiences, Dominguez has been inspired to follow in her sister’s footsteps.
“I want to quit my day job,” said Dominguez. “I do accounting for construction companies. I’ve been doing it for a long time, but I’m kind of over it because I’ve fallen in love with market life. This is what I want to do now. So, we’re trying to build up the business so that I can quit my job and work for her and do more markets.”
Selling at farmers markets has allowed Pete’s Picklin’ to prosper in unprecedented ways. Not only do popular markets like Claremont’s increase revenue, but they also improve business visibility and provide opportunities for growth.
“Somebody found us at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds two years ago,” Dominguez said. “She tried our stuff, and she said, ‘I want you in my store,’ and we’ve been in the Carriage House Antique Store ever since.”
This experience bolstered Wallace and Dominguez’s confidence in their ability to sell their pickles outside of markets. Now, Pete’s Picklin’ jars can be found in seven stores across the county. The success of Pete’s Picklin’ and businesses alike illustrates the power that local connections hold for families and small business owners.
Next Sunday morning, stop by not just for your week’s fresh produce and baked goods, but to connect with your neighbors and support local businesses like Pete’s Picklin’.
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