Organic Rice Growing: Presentation of a Mechanized Farm
in California
Lundberg Family Farms 5311 Midway Road
Richvale, CA 95974 USA August 27, 2012
1937 Lundberg family moves from Nebraska during the Dust Bowl and start farming rice
Eldon
Wendell
Albert Frances
Harlan
Homer
The Lundberg Family in 1940
The 1950s
The Combine Harvester
The Air Rice Dryer
1969 Built Rice Mill to market organic rice
1976 Began producing two pound bags of rice
1980 Started producing blended rice
in one pound bags
1980 Started producing rice cakes.
2003 Brown Rice Chips Introduced
1999 Risotto Introduced
Seed and Specialty Rices
Organic Growth
1980 CA implements the California Organic Food Production Act
Renewable Energy
Since 2003, 100% of the electricity purchased by LFF is offset by renewable energy, helping to support new green-energy projects.
Responsible Power Generation Lundberg Solar
California Rice Industry
• In general, California has between 525,000-600,000 Acres of production each year [212,000-240,000 hectares]
• California is 25 percent of US rice production
• Lundbergs grow about 15,000 acres [6,000 hectares]with 40 contracted growers
• 5,000 acres of the 15,000 acres are Lundberg family owned and operated [2,000 hectares]
Nitrogen-Fixing Purple Vetch
Chopping the Cover Crop
Discing the field
Laser and GPS Leveling the Field
Laser Receiver
Laser Receiver
Specialty rice / Non-GMO
Planes flying at 100 mph (160 km/hr) drop soaked seed into flooded fields
More than 235 species of wildlife use California rice fields
Product Categories
Rice and Blends Rice Cakes Entrees
Rice Chips Brown Rice Cereal Brown Rice Pasta
Brown Rice Flour Brown Rice Syrup
Mission Statement
To honor our family farming legacy by nourishing,
conserving and innovating for a healthier world.
Quality and Focus
What started as one man and one woman teaching their
sons the importance of stewardship
Now spans four generations, with children and grandchildren continuing in the tradition
Questions?
• Lundberg Family Farms • 5311 Midway Road
• Richvale, CA 95974 USA • August 27, 2012