The Mt. Olive Pickle Company announced it has withdrawn from the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., after learning that a Confederate flag appeared in a video displayed as part of the North Carolina exhibit.
The North Carolina-based company confirmed its decision in a statement provided to Nexstar’s WNCT, explaining that it had originally agreed to participate because it believed the exhibit would showcase the state’s strengths.
“We are proud of our North Carolina roots, and we agreed to be a part of an exhibit, as presented to us, that would represent the best of our great state,” the company said.
According to WNCT, Mt. Olive Pickle Company had been invited to participate in the North Carolina display at the 16-day event, which features exhibits representing states from across the country.
Although North Carolina was among several states that chose not to officially participate in the Great American State Fair because of budget constraints, the state continues to have a presence at the event after private companies stepped in to represent North Carolina, according to Nexstar Washington correspondent Gabrielle Caracciolo.
The controversy arose after a Confederate flag appeared in a video being shown as part of the North Carolina exhibit.
Mt. Olive Pickle Company said it was unaware that the image was included in the presentation before the event and decided to remove itself from the exhibit after learning of its use.
The company emphasized that the image did not reflect its values.
“Our company stands on values of human dignity, opportunity, and freedom,” the statement added.
The company did not provide additional details regarding how the Confederate flag came to be included in the exhibit or who was responsible for producing the video.
Despite Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s departure, the North Carolina exhibit continues to feature several other businesses and organizations representing the state.
Among them is Operation Helo, which is participating to discuss its work providing rapid-response disaster relief following emergencies and natural disasters.
Visitors to the North Carolina display can also pose for photos with a NASCAR stock car provided through Richard Childress Racing.
The Great American State Fair continues despite North Carolina’s decision not to send an official state delegation because of budget limitations. Instead, businesses and organizations from the state have filled that role by participating in the exhibit independently.
Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s withdrawal marks one change to that private-sector representation after the company said it learned the Confederate flag had been incorporated into the exhibit’s video presentation.
The company reiterated that it joined the event with the expectation that the display would celebrate North Carolina and its heritage in a manner consistent with the proposal it had been shown before agreeing to participate.
Following the discovery of the image, the pickle maker chose to end its involvement, citing its commitment to what it described as the values of human dignity, opportunity and freedom.
The Great American State Fair is scheduled to continue through July 10, with the North Carolina booth remaining open and featuring other participating organizations and attractions despite Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s departure.
[READ MORE: Acting Intelligence Chief Bill Pulte Begins Purge of Senior National Security Officials]
