The Farm-to-Table Movement: Riceland's Journey from Field to Plate
The farm-to-table movement has become a significant trend in the restaurant industry, driven by consumers' increasing desire for fresh, locally sourced, and sustainably produced food. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, 70% of diners are likelier to choose a restaurant that offers locally sourced ingredients, highlighting the importance of this movement in today’s dining landscape.
The Importance of Farm-to-Table for Diners
Farm-to-table dining emphasizes directly sourcing ingredients from local farms, reducing the distance food travels from production to plate. This approach not only supports local economies but also ensures fresher, higher-quality ingredients. Diners appreciate the transparency and trust that comes with knowing where their food comes from and are willing to pay a premium for meals that reflect these values. The movement also aligns with growing environmental consciousness, as it reduces the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.
Riceland’s Commitment to Farm-to-Table
At Riceland Foods, we take pride in our commitment to the principles of the farm-to-table movement. Our rice production process is designed to ensure that every grain of rice is cultivated, harvested, and processed with the utmost care and attention to quality. As a farmer-owned cooperative, every grain gives back to our 5,500 farmer members and their families.
From Cultivation to Harvest
1. Sustainable Farming Practices: Riceland’s Ingrain Good program employs sustainable farming techniques, such as crop rotation and water conservation. The mission of Ingrain Good is to create value for Riceland’s members, employees, and consumers by prioritizing education and the adoption of sustainable practices.
In June 2022, Riceland launched its Carbon Ready Program to help members capture and utilize farm-level data generated within their operations. This allows Riceland to help our customers in achieving their Scope3 GHG emission reduction goals when they buy into the Carbon Ready program. Our cooperative set a goal to reduce water usage associated with rice production by 2050 billion gallons of water by the end of 2025. With two growing seasons left in that timeline, our Carbon Ready program has surpassed the 200 billion gallons saved mark. Our farmer member’s practices work to protect the environment and improve soil health and rice yield. According to the Environmental Working Group, sustainable farming can increase crop productivity by up to 40% while reducing environmental impact.
2. Advanced Cultivation Methods: We use state-of-the-art agricultural technology to monitor and manage our rice fields. This includes precision farming tools that help optimize water usage and nutrient application, ensuring the healthiest crops with minimal environmental footprint. You can learn more about Riceland’s Carbon Ready program by reading our 2023 Carbon Ready Sustainability Report.
Processing and Quality Assurance
1. State-of-the-Art Milling: Our rice undergoes meticulous processing in our advanced milling facilities after harvesting. Our milling process is designed to retain the rice's nutritional value while ensuring it meets the highest standards of quality and safety.
2. Stringent Quality Control: Every batch of Riceland rice is subjected to rigorous quality control measures. This includes multiple inspection and testing stages to check for purity, grain length, and moisture content. Our quality assurance protocols are aligned with international food safety standards, ensuring that our rice is safe and healthy for consumers. Riceland also has a Product Compliance team that are available to our customers to answer questions and help with any product need.
Traceability and Distribution
1. Traceability: One of the key aspects of the farm-to-table movement is traceability. At Riceland, we maintain detailed records of each step in our rice production process, from the farm where the rice was grown to the final packaging. This traceability allows us to be able to provide our customers with information about the origin and journey of their rice. Our US-grown rice is something that retailers can be proud to supply, and restaurants can be eager to serve.
2. Efficient Distribution: Our distribution network is designed to deliver fresh rice to our partners as quickly and efficiently as possible. We work closely with our logistics partners to minimize transportation time and ensure that our rice retains its quality and freshness when it reaches your business.
Partnering with Riceland: A Win for Restaurants
By choosing Riceland as your rice supplier, you offer your customers a high-quality product and support a system that values sustainability, transparency, and local farming communities. Our commitment to the farm-to-table movement means that you can confidently serve dishes that reflect the freshest ingredients and the highest quality standards.
A Commitment to Better
The farm-to-table movement is more than just a trend; it’s a commitment to better food, better health, and a better planet. At Riceland Foods, we are proud to be part of this movement, delivering sustainably grown, meticulously processed, and family farm sourced rice. Together, we can offer diners meals that are delicious and aligned with their values.
For more information about how we can support your restaurant, contact your sales representative.
References
1. National Restaurant Association. "Top RestaurantIndustry Trends for 2021." [National RestaurantAssociation](https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/industry-report/2021)(2021).
2. Environmental Working Group. "SustainableAgriculture: A Path Forward." [Environmental WorkingGroup](https://www.ewg.org/research/sustainable-agriculture-path-forward)(2020).