Frequently Asked Questions: Growing/Harvesting

• What is Wild Rice?
  
  Wild Rice is technically not rice at all. It is a water-grass seed. It is the only cereal grain native to North America. Wild Rice is often called the Caviar of Grains. Native Americans considered it a rare gift and called it Mahnomen/Manoomin (the good berry).
• Where does wild rice grow?
  
  Wild Rice is indigenous to the Great Lakes region, specifically Minnesota, Wisconsin, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. It is also grown in California.
• Is there a difference between wild rice from Minnesota, Canada and California?
  
  All wild rice is produced from the same seed. It is the processing and parching which makes the products different. We use a traditional roasting method. Most of the California products are parboiled. When parboiled, wild rice loses most of its characteristic flavor.
• When is the growing / harvesting season for Wild Rice?
  
  The growing season begins in March and lasts five months. The single harvest is in August-September.
• Do Native Americans still harvest wild rice?
  
  Yes … the grain is gathered by the Chippewa and Sioux people who pole their canoes through the rice stalks and gently tap the heads with long, smooth flailing sticks to knock the mature seeds into the bottom of the boat. This is known as hand or lake harvesting.
• What does "Cultivated" mean?
  
  This is wild rice commercially grown in a man-made paddy versus organically grown wild rice naturally grown in a lake or river. Natural Lake and River Wild Rice is also known as "Real" or "Traditional" Wild Rice.
• What is the difference between "Hand Harvested" and "Machine Harvested?
  
  Hand harvesting is still practiced by Native Americans, but combine machines now harvest most Wild Rice.