When Linda Magro first decided to grow cucumbers in her garden, she had no idea that her quaint hobby would soon transform into a successful local business.

Magro and her family now work together to create delicious gourmet pickles for Centre County locals and Penn State fans alike, aiming to be the one and only pickle company for every Penn State tailgate.

Magro describes the story behind her business as an “accidental blessing.” After growing a family garden, Magro decided it would be fun to attempt to make pickles for her family and friends. They were so well received that she decided to market them in Happy Valley.

“I tried many different combinations of ingredients and finally found the one that works. Our secret ingredient is, of course, love,” Magro said. “The success and popularity of our pickles was a wonderful surprise to me.”

When first starting Happy Valley Pickle Company, Magro created a website and Facebook page to market her product. She reached out to local farmer’s markets to gauge interest in her pickles and was picked up by the Bellefonte Farmer’s Market in 2019. She’s been selling there ever since.

Making gourmet pickles is not an easy task. From sourcing the perfect ingredients to hand-cutting every pickle, Magro and her family say they put their heart and soul into Happy Valley Pickle Company.

“All ingredients are 100% natural,” Magro said. “We are fortunate to live in a rural area, so we locally source our cucumbers and other ingredients used to make our pickles. I purchase from local farms and grow some of our own. The one-of-a-kind flavor of our pickles makes them gourmet quality. There is a lot of work that goes into making them, but I love it, and I love that people love them so much.”

What sets Happy Valley Pickle Company apart from the rest is the time and effort spent making the pickles. Magro and her family make it a point to weed out every imperfection to ensure a quality experience for every customer. They even deliver on weekends just in time for Penn State football.

As a recent Penn State graduate, Magro is no stranger to the Penn State community and the family-oriented atmosphere of Happy Valley. Magro emphasizes that her family is an essential part of her business, and she plans to keep it that way.

“Since our company is family-run, I hope that its success will continue on in our family for generations to come,” Magro said.

As for the future, Magro plans to branch out to more retail venues. Her products are exclusively sold at Belle Mercantile in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, but the company plans on expanding.

“I would love to obtain a small storefront in the future so we can showcase our brand and other local businesses,” Magro said. “I really believe in buying local and supporting local merchants.”

All product and delivery information are listed on the Happy Valley Pickle Company website. For more information, contact [email protected] and follow them on Facebook.