Before the advent of modern day technologies like cold storage facilities and refrigeration, mankind wasn't assured of fresh fruits and vegetables around the year and only locally grown fresh crops were available for consumption during the season and that too if the weather was kind. Prospects of starvation or food deprivation were a constant human companion.
Historically, all geographic regions of the world faced food scarcity during months, having adverse weather conditions.
In the West nothing grew during the bitter winter months and preparations were made during the summer to survive the winters when Meat was salted, vegetables like cucumbers were stored in vinegar and fruits were converted into Jams and Marmalades using sugar to create preserves for use in winter months.
Similarly, in the East very little grew in the scorching summers and preparations were made in the winters to have wholesome and nutritious food available in those months. In India fruits and vegetables were preserved using five type of ingredients like spices, oil, vinegar, sugar and salt Both in the East as well as in the West generations of mothers and grandmothers worked to preserve food of various types and in various forms to provide nourishment to their families during these hard times and thus the ART OF PICKLING WAS BORN