A LOVE STORY
In 1995
we began importing black rice, calling it Forbidden Rice® after the Forbidden City, the Chinese Imperial palace. We wanted to share our love affair with heirloom rice with American consumers. If they loved the exciting colors and tastes of rice from around the world as much as we did, we could help preserve rice biodiversity, increase farm incomes, and improve sustainability. It worked!
Today
our supplier community brings you the highest quality organic rice and rice noodles, while promoting human and environmental welfare.
Our journey of love continues...
MISSION & VISION
MISSION
LEAD THE WAY IN RICE FARMING PRACTICES
that simultaneously
mitigate climate change, promote farmers’ resilience, and empower women.
VISION
To Change
how rice is grown around the world.
RICE IS LIFE
Rice sustains half the world’s population. Most is grown on small family farms. But producing it is hard on people and the environment.
Natural Resources
¼ to ⅓ of the planet’s annual renewable supply of fresh water is used for rice irrigation.
Climate Impact
Flooded rice fields are a major source of human-induced methane gas emission.
Labor Intensive
Hundreds of millions of women perform back-breaking tasks in unhealthy standing water.
Livelihoods
Most smallholder rice farmers struggle to make a living.
How we make it happen
Sourcing
We source rice from smallholder farmers, giving them access to international markets.
Premium Pricing
We pay organic and Fair Trade premiums to increase incomes and attract the next generation.
Community Development
We help fund local improvement projects and job growth with Fair Trade social premiums.
Regenerative
We promote organic and regenerative More Crop Per Drop® to restore natural resources, slow climate change.
Innovative Products
We strive to make healthy rice-based products more accessible and enable more farmers to benefit.
Advocacy
We advocate for a more just, equitable food system together with like-minded brands and partners.
More Crop Per Drop®
Conventional vs. More Crop Per Drop®
Conventional
vs.
More Crop Per Drop®
21-60 days old seedlings planted randomly in clumps of up to 5 seedlings
8-15 days old seedlings planted in rows at wide spacing; 1 plant per hole
BENEFIT:
Less transplant shock and competition among plants promotes growth.
OUR IMPACT
OUR IMPACT
-
58.3Mlbs of organic rice purchased
-
57.1KCO2e tons saved
-
6.1BGALLONS OF WATER SAVED
Check Out Our Reports
2023 Impact Report
Learn about our history, farming practices, innovations, JEDI commitments, and more.
Download PDF here
FY2024 Annual Benefit Corp Report
Read about our transition in leadership and new investment partner.
Download PDF here
25 years and growing
1995
- First sale of Bhutanese Red Rice.
- First sale and trademark of Forbidden Rice®, pioneers in pigmented rice.
1996
- Introduce the first certified organic jasmine rice sold in US.
1997
- First in-store demos.
1998
- Forbidden Rice® wins a Specialty Foods sofi™ Award (the first of 16 sofi™ awards).
1999
- Supply chain trip through Bhutan, Thailand, Laos and China.
2000
- Launch of Kaipen (freshwater green algae) and Rice Flour (red, black and white rice blended with Kaipen).
- Introduce Kalijira Rice, a “baby basmati” from Bangladesh.
Meet Our Farming Community
PraTithi Organic Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2019
location
Uttar Pradesh, India
Product
White & Brown Basmati Rice
about
PraTithi Organic Foods, a pioneer and leading champion of organic farming in India, partners with small and marginal farmers, preserving traditional knowledge and local crop varieties with eco-friendly techniques, like the System of Rice Intensification (More Crop Per Drop®) to produce the best yields and quality. Farmers producing heirloom Basmati rice for Lotus Foods qualified for Regenerative Organic Certified®/Gold.
