A gherkin is a small cucumber for pickling. It keeps its crunch after pickling, and it has a sweet and sour taste. Most people think of it as a burger topping or a salad extra. For a food manufacturer or distributor, though, size is a buying decision.
Two lots of gherkins can look alike in a drum and still behave very differently on a production line. The size decides how many pieces you get per kilo. It also decides the finished product and how it is used.
This guide explains the size and grades Indo Western Agro Exports (IWAE) offers, what the count per kg means, and how to match a grade to your needs.
How Are Gherkins Graded?
Gherkins are graded in two ways: by length in centimetres, and by weight and count.
Before grading, every lot is cleaned. After grading, the gherkins are soaked and washed. IWAE’s quality team watches each of these steps. The process also includes removing foreign particles and flowers, and separating damaged, crooked, bent, and worm-infected fruit.
Grading sits inside a wider food safety system. IWAE works to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Gherkin Sizes By Length
These are the length-based sizes IWAE lists, with the average number of fruits in one kilo.
| Size | Length | Average fruits per kg |
| 0-3 | 0 cm to 3 cm | 330+
|
| 1-4 | 1 cm to 4 cm | 200 to 330
|
| 3-6 | 3 cm to 6 cm | 80 to 130
|
| 5-8 | 5 cm to 8 cm | 60 to 80
|
| 6-9 | 6 cm to 9 cm | 35 to 50
|
| 8-10 | 8 cm to 10 cm | 23 to 27
|
| 9-12 | 9 cm to 12 cm | 13 to 20
|
The pattern is simple. The shorter the gherkin, the more pieces you get in a kilo.
0-3 CM Gherkins
This is the smallest length grade, covering gherkins up to 3 cm long. Following the pattern above, it gives the most pieces in a kilo of all the length sizes.
1-4 CM Gherkins
This small size sits between the 0-3 cm and 3-6 cm grades. Each piece is a little longer than a 0-3 cm gherkin, with a very high piece count per kg.
3-6 CM Gherkins
At 80 to 130 fruits per kg, this grade still gives a high piece count, with pieces a little larger than the 0-3 cm and 1-4 cm sizes.
6-9 CM Gherkins
This is a mid-range size, with about 35 to 50 fruits per kg. Each piece is noticeably larger than a 3-6 cm gherkin.
9-12 CM Gherkins
This is the largest length grade. A kilo holds only 13 to 20 fruits, so each piece is big.
Gherkin Grades By Weight And Count
Many importers buy by grade code instead of length. IWAE supplies these grades:
- 300+
- 300/450
- 150/300
- 120/150
- 100/160
- 80/150
- 60/160
- 60/120
- 60/100
- 60/80
- 40/60
- 30/60
- 20/30
- 10/20
- 5/60
Here is what some of these mean in grams and in count per kg:
- 300+: Below 3.3 g per fruit, more than 330 fruits per kg.
- 150/300: 3.4 to 6.6 g, about 195 to 240 fruits per kg.
- 100/160: 6.2 to 10 g, about 125 to 140 fruits per kg.
- 60/100: 10.1 to 16.6 g, about 75 to 95 fruits per kg.
- 20/30: 33.4 to 50 g, about 23 to 27 fruits per kg.
Small grade numbers mean bigger gherkins. A 300+ is tiny. A 20/30 is a large, heavy fruit.
What Packing And Pickling Options Are Available?
IWAE is a bulk exporter. Gherkins are supplied in 260-litre HDPE food-grade drums. The gherkins are preserved in one of three media:
- Natural vinegar
- Acetic acid
- Salt brine
This setup is made for importers, food processors and distributors who buy by the drum.
Can Gherkin Grades Be Customised?
Yes, the grades listed above are the standard range, but IWAE can adjust them to match your requirements. If your product needs a count or size that sits between two grades, that is worth raising when you plan an order.
What Are Gherkins Used For?
Gherkins are used in burgers, salads, and snacks. They also work as a side dish with Italian, continental, and oriental food. Many people serve them cold, and they are also used in sandwich fillings. The pickled varieties are most loved in Eastern and Central Europe.
How To Choose The Right Gherkin Size?
Start with your end product, then work backward.
- Decide how many pieces you want per kilo. A 3-6 cm gherkin gives you 80 to 130. A 9-12 cm gherkin gives you 13 to 20.
- Decide how large each piece should look once it is used in your recipe or dish.
- Pick the medium that suits your market: natural vinegar, acetic acid, or salt brine.
- Check whether a custom grade would suit you better than a standard one.
Which Certifications Back These Grades?
- IWAE holds three certifications:
- FSSC 22000
- FSSAI
- Kosher
Its quality systems follow USFDA and European Union norms. The team runs quality tests and checks during processing, and pre-shipment inspections are carried out before orders leave the factory.
Sourcing
IWAE is based in Sira Taluk, Tumkur District, Karnataka. The company works with contract farmers across Karnataka. It uses non-GMO seeds, and it trains farmers in good agricultural practices on soil, water, and crop management. The IWAE team buys the harvest and takes it to the factory for processing.
South India suits gherkins well. The plant needs temperatures of 15 to 35 degrees Celsius. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka can grow up to three crops a year.
Export Markets
IWAE supplies customers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the UAE and other global markets.
Summary
Gherkin size comes down to count and length. Shorter gherkins give more pieces per kg, and longer ones give fewer, larger pieces. IWAE lists length sizes from 0-3 cm to 9-12 cm, plus weight grades from 300+ to 10/20.
Everything ships in 260-litre HDPE food-grade drums, in natural vinegar, acetic acid, or salt brine, and grades can be adjusted to suit your order.
If you import gherkins in bulk and want to talk grades, send Indo Western Agro Exports an enquiry through the contact page of the website.
Also Read This : Indian Gherkins Manufacturer Guide for Global Food Buyers
