California Wild Rice Research and Information Center

Wild rice is not actually rice at all but a form of wheat grass. However, it does grow in similar conditions to rice – that is in flooded soils. Wild rice is thought to be native to Great Lakes region where it is still grown wild.

wild-rice

 

In California, wild rice has been grown commercially since the 1970s and is planted in cultivated paddies where yields range from 1,200 to 2,000 lb/ac. There are three major production regions for wild rice in California:

  • The Sacramento Valley
  • Northeastern California
  • Clear Lake region

Wild rice is a minor crop in California (less than 20,000 acres); however, California is the largest producer of wild rice in the world.