The lone cucumber of Aldi joke is one of the baffling jokes among Aldi Fans. Yes, the Aldi cucumber story is as bizarre and random as it sounds.
Not many grocery stores have a fan base, but Aldi does! In fact, the ALDI Aisle of Shame Community on Facebook currently has more than 1.4 MILLION members.
First, Aldi shoppers will randomly find a single lone cucumber at Aldi. The "cucumbers of Aldi" are left in a shopping cart, randomly placed within the store, or left outside of the Aldi building.
Then Aldi Facebook community members will upload a picture to the Facebook group discussion board of a random and lonely cucumber they spotted during their store visit. Tickled Aldi fans will post comments on the lonely cucumber picture or click on the laughing emoji.
A few brave commenters will chime in asking for the story behind the lonely Aldi cucumber photos. The problem is, it seems that no one knows exactly how the Aldi cucumber joke started.
So what is the story of the Aldi lone cucumber? No one knows exactly. The lone cucumbers of Aldi just seem to happen. The cucumber story seems to be a joke without a beginning or really any meaning.
The Aldi cucumber story that went viral in May 2022
The mysterious Aldi cucumber story has been around since at least 2021, but the Aldi cucumber joke went viral when a Facebook group member posted her cheeky experience with a lone cucumber in May of 2022. She is now known colloquially as "The Cucumber Lady."
Officially my weirdest Aldi experience...
As I was returning my cart a woman said "I'll take that." {NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL}... however
T R A D I T I O N A L L Y - This engagement is followed by the offering of a quarter, which did not happen
Maybe she didn't know... anyway, I proceed back into the store to use the restroom because never in my adult life have a made it thru an Aldi shopping adventure without having to pee {yay for hydration}
As I'm walking to the
How thoughtful, right?
It doesn't occur to me until I'm about to leave the restroom that I just took a
I guess I have to find a new Aldi since I'm clearly never going to show my face here again
- Sarah S.
Maybe she didn't know... anyway, I proceed back into the store to use the restroom because never in my adult life have a made it thru an Aldi shopping adventure without having to pee {yay for hydration}
my cart beneficiary chases me down to let me know I've forgotten a 
What does the lone cucumber of Aldi mean?
Veteran Aldi fans try to explain how the cucumber joke started. More confusion seems to occur. A Reddit thread titled "Aldi cucumber?" tries to find the answer to the joke. One user suggested the cucumbers help scare away cats from lounging in the shopping carts.
u/TyneeDalit
Another Reddit user suggested that finding a lone cucumber may be rooted in a German tradition of hiding a green pickle on Christmas trees.
u/blackberrybunny
Aldi Cucumber on TikTok
On January 18, 2021, TikTok user @matthewlesky posted a TikTok video about the Aldi cucumbers being left randomly on ledges outside of Aldi. The TikTok user notes that the cucumbers being left outside of Aldi are "... mostly English cucumbers, but I guess it's not specific... like WHY?"
One commenter seems to have the most logical and best explanation for lone cucumber sightings at Aldi:
Probably just the next person finding it and then it gets awkward.
Pictures of Lonely Aldi Cucumbers
Other Aldi fans have shared their run-ins with a lone cucumber placed on a shopping cart, ledge, or on the ground.
- Lorelei H.
Edit to add: I did not place this cucumber. I found this cucumber. I don't know the meaning. I took the pic because I saw similar posts on here yesterday. Cucumber was left for the next guy.
- Deborah S.
has this become a new insiders Aldi joke? Or are people just setting it down while putting their cart up and forgetting it? 
- Tiffany M.
- Kirsten R.
- Kelly R.
The Karens of the internet world like to wag their fingers by interjecting in the group comment section that too many cucumbers are being wasted by perpetuating the Aldi cucumber joke.
Yet, at the end of the day, no one exactly knows how the Aldi lone cucumber joke started - or when it will end. At the very least, the lone cucumbers of Aldi bring smiles to thousands of people who have a weird obsession with the long, green vegetable known as a cucumber.
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