how do you buy them.

One of the stores where I shop has an olive bar. It's like a salad bar. You put whatever you want into a container and they weigh it at the register. . There's usually unpitted olives in the olive bar. They may also have them in the deli. I don't buy them but I imagine you can also find them in jars in the same section of the regular groceries where olives, pickles, etc. are stocked. Why do you want to know?

My grocery store has them in jars. They are a pain to take the pits out.

for paula deen shrimp and rice salad.

I'd find pitted one somewhere... I HATE taking the pits out!

I don't understand why there would be unpitted olives in a shrimp and rice salad. Are you sure the recipe says unpitted, not pitted? Or does the recipe say to remove the pits before adding? I don't see why you couldn't just use the pitted olives that come in jars. Maybe rinse to get rid of excess salt.

i am like draclvr, i hate to take the pits out.

Some cans of pitted olives have chips from the pits that are harder to get rid of than actual pits. That's one reason some people prefer the unpitted type.

I only like unpitted olives. I like to chew them off the pit.

Here is a good reason why to buy Unpitted

Ana

Yeah, I admit I do like chewing them off the pit too! But if I'm using them in a recipe, I HATE pitting them!