Wednesday, February 29, 2012

New blogger Brendan O'Donnell- Brown Rice and Whole Grain

I’ve recently been getting a lot of questions about brown rice and whole grains. Many people are becoming very familiar with these foods, but I think very few people actually know what brown rice and whole grains are. I’ve spoken to many people that are under the assumption that brown rice is a different type or a different variety of rice. In reality, all rice begins as brown rice, and while brown rice offers added nutrition, all rice can be an important part of your diet.

I think a great way to understand this is by focusing on the hugely-popular phrase “whole grain.” Over the past couple years; we have all been bombarded with whole grains. It’s labeled on our cereal boxes, loaves of bread and bags of rice. We see and hear about it on TV, and it’s even a fundamental building block of Michelle Obama’s healthy eating campaign. But what does brown rice or whole grain mean? In order to explain whole grains, we need not go further than the name. I actually love the marketing of whole grains because it is so simple and self-explanatory. Whole grain is exactly what it sounds like- it literally means the entire (whole) grain. The only thing that gets milled away is the inedible outer husk, leaving the entire rice kernel intact, including the germ, which is the corner of the rice kernel where life begins for a rice plant (another topic for another day) the brown colored outer bran layer (hence the name brown rice).

So now that we know what brown rice is, why is it healthier for you then white rice? It’s very simple really. This outer bran layer is filled with fiber, vitamins, protein and amino acids. The outer bran layer also contains a very healthy oil (rice bran oil), which is shown to help lower LDL Cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol). This oily bran layer also explains why brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice. It simply takes longer for the water to pass through the oily barrier and absorb into the rice kernel.

I believe that as people start to really understand these health benefits, the popularity of brown rice will continue to increase. I also noticed that many people who try brown rice are pleasantly surprised to find that they also really like the taste and texture. If you’re not yet on the whole grain brown rice bandwagon, maybe it’s time to give it a shot.


Brendan O’Donnell is Vice President, Sales at The Sun Valley Rice Company, LLC, which mills, packages and markets premium California rice both domestically and around the world. He is the Fifth generation of his family to be involved in California agriculture and has been marketing and promoting California rice since 2007. He is a graduate of UC Davis with a B.S. in Agricultural Systems and Environment and Communications. Brendan is also an active member of the Rice Leadership Development Program. When he’s not selling rice, Brendan enjoys golfing, skiing and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Erin have Two children, Bridget and Liam.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

New Blog- Leadership Program culminates at the Nation’s Capitol

Over the last two years, I have participation in the Rice Leadership Development Program run by the USA Rice Foundation. Six other participants from throughout the US rice industry participated in my class. During the two-year program, we visited the Gulf Coast, Arkansas and California. We just returned from our final session in Washington, D.C.

We were all a bit sad as we ended our journey, but also exciting as we start a new one deploying the leadership skills we have recently learned in various forums in the rice industry.

I truly enjoyed being exposed to the different departments at USDA. I also found sitting in the House Agriculture Committee Room getting the latest on the Farm Bill from Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Petersen extremely informative. Visiting our House and Senate representatives and their staff with my California state delegation was also a highlight of the week.

We spent some time viewing the committee and board meetings that were being held during the USA Rice Federation. Seeing firsthand how the Producers and Millers Boards conduct their meetings. We also visited USA Rice Federation office in Virginia and had presentations on the value of Domestic and International Promotion, Media, and Government Affairs directors and managers.

The final week in Washington, D.C. brought the lessons we learned regionally from our first three sessions in the different rice growing states and synthesized those lessons into the broader issues of the national industry. The program helped me realize that although our differences from state to state vary greatly that working together benefits all of us in the long run.

Nicole Montna Van Vleck is a third generation rice farmer who farms with her parents and sister in Sutter County. Nicole is Managing Partner of Montna Farms which grows, dries and stores super premium short grain rice. Montna Farms partners with many waterfowl organizations to protect and enhance waterfowl habitat primarily on its working rice lands.

Nicole is a graduate of UCLA and The California Agricultural Leadership Program. Nicole and her husband Stan have two school-aged children.

New Conservation Program

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be accepting applications for a special habitat program through Friday, April 6, 2012. Counties included in this year’s expanded program will include Sutter, Yuba, Yolo, Butte, Glenn and Colusa.

Click here to learn more.

Monday, February 27, 2012

New CRC Blog- Celebrating a Rich Culture

By Jim Morris, California Rice Commission Communications Manager

The Chinese culture is one of the oldest and most complex in the world. It’s also been a part of this state right from the start.

Back in the Gold Rush days, Chinese immigrants accounted for the vast majority of those who toiled on the railroads to help tame the western frontier. They also were the first to grow rice in California.

Fast forward to present day, and you might be surprised to know that one of the oldest Chinese communities in the state is in Marysville. The Bok Kai Festival and Parade celebrate this, and this weekend marked the 132nd such celebration. In fact, some contend this is the oldest continuous parade held in the United States!

Our family ventured to Marysville to join the thousands who gathered for the 2012 Bok Kai Festival, marking the Year of the Dragon. One thing immediately clear was the perk of festival in a small community. Unlike some of the bigger festivals held in the state, we readily found parking that was a little more than one block from the parade route. Mighty convenient!

After finding a good viewing location, we were warmly greeted by Gordon Tom, President of the Sahm Fow Chinese Community, whose family has amazingly deep roots in Marysville.



The parade was quintessential fun for all ages, with marching bands, civic groups, horses and many cultural entries – complete with the staccato bursts from thousands of firecrackers. The highlight for our family (and it seemed all of the families on our street corner) was a magnificent 175-foot long Dragon that had everything but the fiery breath.



All in all, the parade proved to be fun and enlightening for our family. It’s also a reminder of the rich cultures found in the Sacramento Valley, each worthy of exploring and appreciating.


Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission. Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathons

Friday, February 24, 2012

Video- Congresswoman Doris Matsui comments on California Rice

Congresswoman Doris Matsui comments on the value of California rice for the state's economy, environment and cuisine. The Congresswoman also provides comments on water efficiency among rice farmers in the state.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

New video- California Rice and Water Efficiency

University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor Cass Mutters comments on improvements in water efficiency by California rice farmers.

Our comments on arsenic in rice and rice products

With the recent stories surrounding arsenic in several different foods, you may have questions on this subject. Here are the facts and our call for FDA to help the public and our industry understand this issue better.  Download our comments


Additional Resources:


Dietary Intake of Whole Grains Study

Whole Grain Consumption is associated with diet quality and nutrition intake in adults

Rice Consumption recent evidence from food consumption surveys

Friday, February 17, 2012

New Guest Blog- Wildlife inspires passionate artist Guest Blog- Wildlife inspires passionate artist

By René C. Reyes

There was a painting that hung on a wall at my aunt’s house that depicted two birds, a yellowish brown bird and a blue colored bird. I was fascinated by it. I did not know what species they were but it had made enough of an impression on me that I copied it with my crayons. It was my very first “bird art”. I was four at that time. Thirty-five years later, my fascination for birds is stronger than ever and it has flourished into a career in avian fine art. It has also brought me to a realization that my career relies heavily on the conservation of wildlands and farmlands, two places that birds are most plentiful.

Migrating birds seek food and protection in areas with water. The smooth movements of a Tundra Swan as it glides along on rice fields or the preening of a Sandhill Crane (Figure 1) on a flooded field, inspire me to depict these birds in simple watercolor paintings. Where there is open land, it also brings other species such as Red-tailed Hawks (Figure 2) that scan the horizon for its next meal or tidings of Yellow-billed Magpies (Figure 3) that add color to tilled cornfields. In essence, these birds would not be here without the open fields.

As custodians of the land, we have the power to protect these habitats not just for the benefit of birds but also for future generations to enjoy. As I watch my youngest daughter copy my painting of a bird hanging on the wall, I pray that we will leave land that is not made of concrete, but of soil and water which are the first ingredients of life.


About the artist: René C. Reyes is an avian artist from the Central Valley. A portion of bird art sales are donated to land conservation. Learn more about his paintings at:
ReneCarlitoreyes.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Video from Dennis Lindberg- Winter in Rice Country means birds

Longtime family rice farmer Dennis Lindberg talks about all of the birds that congregate in the area rice fields, especially during winter months.




Dennis Lindberg has grown rice in Butte County for nearly 70 consecutive years.He’s a well-known author and metal artist, taking scrap metal and creating beautiful animal sculptures. His civic work and love of community is evidenced by his being honored as “Outstanding Citizen of the 20th Century” by Lundberg Family Farms. He and his wife Charlotte have two children – Gary and Sherry. Gary farms with his father in the historic community of Richvale, which recently celebrated its centennial.

Monday, February 13, 2012

New Guest Blog- A Truly Amazing Grain

By Melinda Rist

The Chico Museum’s “Amazing Grains: The Story of Rice in California and Beyond” exhibit has finally closed. Almost 6,000 people came to see the display, making this the third highest attended exhibit in the museum’s 26-year history. And it wasn’t just the locals who came to visit: we had people from 11 countries, 26 states, and every county in California!

Included in the visitors were over 2,600 schoolchildren, who learned how rice is grown, the use of rice around the word, why it’s so good for you, what the farmers do all year long, and the importance of the rice fields to the Pacific Flyway birds and so many other critters. Learning that white rice and brown rice were the same, just at different stages of milling, was a real surprise to the kids.


Everyone who came in to explore the display learned something new….including more than a few rice farmers themselves! Visitors from as close as the Bay Area were amazed to learn that rice is grown right here in California. Learning about the actual water usage, the huge reduction in rice straw burning, and the local history of this crop were other eye-openers for most people.


The Chico Museum thanks all the wonderful people involved the rice industry for helping us to make this such a successful exhibit. It’s been a real pleasure working with you, and we so appreciate your support.

Be sure to check out our next exhibit The Bicycle: Life on Two Wheels, beginning March 3.



Melinda Rist is Manager of the Chico Museum.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Treasure from the Rice Paddy- By Julie Cader

By Julie Cader

Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission, and a big proponent of trying new culinary experiences- especially if they feature food (and beverages) featuring California Rice.

As soon as my son, Jeff, poured the cloudy Sake into Ashley's glass, I had a sudden flashback of my childhood growing up in Alaska.

The milky color of Takara's Nigori Sake brought back memories of the milky color of the Nenana River, a glacially-fed river near Denali National Park, in the heart of the Alaska range.

Of course in the 60's (I'm dating myself) we would load up the family in the station wagon and head to Mt. McKinley for a weekend camping adventure.

On the way there, we would take the ferry across the Tanana River into the fishing village of Nenana and head up the Park Highway, following the Nenana River. In those days you could drive into McKinley Park and 18 (dusty and winding) miles up the mountainside, but years later the tremendous growth in automobile traffic in the park resulted in a shuttle bus system and restrictions on private vehicles.

Now back to eating and drinking, the sake was wonderful! Takara Sake USA was established in Berkeley in 1982. They use pure snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada and California rice from the fertile Sacramento Valley to make sake worthy of the Takara mark. Nigori is the way Sake first appeared when it was brewed for the Imperial Court in Kyoto, Japan as well as for most of its 2,000-year history. It is lightly-filtered and the sweetest of all types of sake made by Takara. Incidentally, Takara means "treasure from the rice paddy.” This foodie feels it is especially delicious with very spicy foods, especially Thai cuisine. Don't forget to shake the bottle each time you pour since it has a high rice content that settles in the bottom of the bottle.

So the next time you try Takara's Nigori Sake, know that it has a lot of nourishing California rice left in it--a drink that is a meal! And of course, if you feel adventurous, head north to Alaska and see for yourself the wonderful color of the Nenana River. Who knows, if you're really lucky, the clouds may move away so that you can see the peak of our majestic Mt. McKinley.

Kampai!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

New video from Grant Lundberg- Richvale Memories

Lundberg Family Farms CEO Grant Lundberg comments on growing up in the community of Richvale and what the town means to his family.





Grant Lundberg is Chief Executive Officer of Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale, Butte County.

Monday, February 6, 2012

New CRC Blog- Regal Find

By Jim Morris, California Rice Commission Communications Manager

Ever have one of those moments where you see something so magnificent, you have to do a double take and then count your lucky stars about your good fortune?

I had one of those moments today during a trip through the Sacramento Valley rice country.  Large flocks of birds are a common sight in rice fields, especially during the winter Pacific Flyway migration.  After scores of trips through this region, I hadn’t had a chance to see a Bald Eagle in a rice field.  My regal find happened in Nelson, Butte County and after I took deep cleansing breaths I was able to snap a quick photograph of our national bird.


Those who live around rice country get this treat from time to time.  In fact, a recent front-page photo in the Chico Enterprise Record had no fewer than seven bald eagles in it.  Let me tell you, it’s impressive to see these birds standing proud in our own backyard. To top it off I saw another adult Bald Eagle and a juvenile eagle, but was unable to take any more photos.  I did, however, see a huge flock of birds off a small road just a few miles from the eagle discovery.


This is prime time for wildlife viewing in and around rice fields in the North State. Take your camera and binoculars and keep your eyes peeled.  You just might have more sightings of our national bird and all its majesty!


Jim Morris is Communications Manager for the California Rice Commission.  Jim has worked in communications for more than 20 years.  When he’s not on the job, he enjoys his family, faith, football, outrageous monster stories and running marathons

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

New CRC Blog- View from Above

By Julie Cader

Julie is Finance & Administration Manager for the California Rice Commission and a passionate supporter of local family rice farms and mills. 

While flying into Sacramento International Airport the other day, I was reminded of the often-asked question when folks learn that I work for the California Rice Commission, "We grow rice in California? I didn't know we grew rice in California!"

That's my cue.

I love to respond with, "Do you fly out of Sacramento International Airport?" They often answer "yes', and I excitingly say, "then look down as the plane takes off. What you will see is a beautiful patchwork of rice
fields slipping beneath you!"


Most California rice farmers use laser land leveling techniques to prepare the ground for production, creating this amazing patchwork of rice paddies. Laser leveling is one of the most effective techniques to improve water use efficiency and experienced agricultural pilots use satellite guidance technology to broadcast seed accurately over these leveled fields.

So the next time you have a flight out of Sacramento, look down!

New Guest Videos

Conservation groups Audubon and PRBO comment on California Rice benefits for Shorebirds



New Photo Album- Inside June's Café


Check out a new CRC photo album on Facebook-

Inside June’s Café