For as long as 7-year-old Stephen’s parents can remember, their boy has always loved pickles. Mom Amber says he can eat a jar or two a day, if she lets him. Dad James received his son’s first request when he woke up from an operation for his life-threatening medical condition – for pickles. Stephen even freezes the leftover pickle juice to make pickle pops.

When the young pickle connoisseur asked wish granters with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Central & Southern Arizona to send him to work in a pickle factory, wish granters made arrangements with B&G Foods Inc. in Hurlock, Md. According to Stephen’s Arizona wish granters, “the folks at the pickle factory were astonished and excited about hosting a wish child.” B&G employees worked together with Make-A-Wish® volunteers to create a fun-filled work shift for Stephen.

Stephen and his family – 10-year-old sister Elizabeth, 16-month-old brother Brigham, and their parents – flew to Baltimore, where they received a police escort to the pickle plant. As the group stepped out of their limousine, they could see all of the factory employees gathered outside to catch a peek of the boy who wanted to work alongside them. The employees were also wearing green pins that read, “Experience the Power of a Pickle.” Before Stephen could get to work, though, Hurlock’s mayor presented the boy with a plaque containing a key to the city.

B&G decided to show Stephen how a pickle was produced and began with a visit to the farm where cucumbers are grown. He helped drive a tractor that harvested the cucumbers while discarding the leaves. Stephen later revealed that it was his favorite part of the wish. Next, he rode in an 18-wheeler that brought the thousands of cucumbers back to the factory.

Inside the plant, Stephen and Elizabeth took their places on the assembly line. Workers showed them how to pick, sort, and jar the pickles, and then add the juice. The two new employees managed to jar four cases of pickles, which B&G packaged up and sent back to their home. Stephen’s jars were easily distinguishable as they were stuffed to the brim with spears.

The pickle-packing day wasn’t the family’s only adventure in Maryland, as they also visited the National Aquarium, where Stephen met a dolphin; toured Baltimore on a duck tour, during which their amphibious vehicle splashed into the harbor; attended a Baltimore Orioles game; and visited relatives.

With all that excitement, does Stephen still want to work in a pickle factory? Yes. As a matter of fact, he wants to own one.