California Rice Commission

What California Rice Commission does

The California Rice Commission is a Sacramento-headquartered, non-profit trade association established in 1999 that represents and promotes the California rice industry across approximately 500,000 acres of Sacramento Valley production and 2,500 family farms. The commission operates as an industry advocacy and marketing body, funded through assessments from its farmer and rice-mill members, and executes programs spanning consumer marketing, conservation, research, and policy representation. Its portfolio includes Calrose and approximately 40 other California rice varieties, the Rice Footprint Report (developed with UC Davis and Point Blue Conservation Science), the Bid4Birds waterbird habitat program, and the Fish Food Program supporting endangered Chinook salmon.

The commission's core technology centers on sustainable rice farming practices in the Sacramento Valley, including winter flooding that creates surrogate wetland habitat for 230 wildlife species, water-recycling systems returning 40% of irrigation water to neighboring farms and refuges, and specialty rice cultivation. Distribution flows through approximately 25 rice mills (including ADM Rice Inc., California Family Foods, and Lundberg Family Farms), California export ports, retail grocery channels, and food-service customers such as Japanese and Korean restaurants and sake producers (Gekkeikan Sake USA). Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed; the commission operates as a membership- and assessment-funded trade body rather than a direct seller of rice.

The commission's go-to-market approach is demand-generation and industry representation: content marketing (recipes, restaurant spotlights, educational resources), earned media coverage, Instagram (@norcalwater) engagement, and conservation-driven storytelling. Strategic partnerships span eight named conservation organizations (Ducks Unlimited, California Trout, California Waterfowl, Point Blue Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon California, and UC Davis) that reinforce the industry's environmental legitimacy. The commission does not sell rice or technology products directly; it functions as a collective-marketing, research, and advocacy organization for the California rice value chain.

Name

California Rice Commission

Legal name

California Rice Commission

Website

https://calrice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The California Rice Commission is a Sacramento-based non-profit trade association representing approximately 2,500 family farms and 25 rice mills across the Sacramento Valley, promoting Calrose and other California rice varieties through consumer marketing, conservation programs, and industry advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Commission / Rice Industry Advocacy

NAICS

Rice Farming (11116), Rice Farming (111160), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Rice Farming (AFAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Agriculture (Erosion Control, Contour/Strip Cropping, Mulching) (AFAGAMAB), Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO), Rice & Grain Processing (milling, polishing, parboiling, blending) (AFAKABAE)

Keywords

• Rice industry advocacy
• Agricultural trade commission
• Rice marketing organization
• Conservation programs
• Calrose rice promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Representation and Membership: As a trade commission representing California's rice industry, the California Rice Commission operates through membership support from rice farmers and rice mills. The commission promotes the industry through marketing, conservation programs, and advocacy while representing rice growers across the Sacramento Valley.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The California Rice Commission is a non-profit trade commission that represents and promotes the California rice industry. It supports roughly 2,500 family rice farms and approximately 25 rice mills across the Sacramento Valley through industry advocacy, marketing, conservation programs (Bid4Birds, Fish Food), and educational publications (Rice Footprint Report, Rice 101), while driving consumer demand for California-grown rice varieties such as Calrose.

Product overview

The California Rice Commission is an industry trade organization representing California's rice industry, which cultivates approximately 500,000 acres of rice in the Sacramento Valley. The organization's portfolio centers on promoting California rice (primarily Calrose medium-grain rice, with approximately 40 varieties grown), alongside conservation programs including the Bid4Birds Program, Fish Food Program for salmon recovery, and educational resources such as the Rice Footprint Report developed with UC Davis and Point Blue Conservation Science. Additional offerings include the Rice 101 educational content and a collection of California rice recipes. The commission connects rice mills, farmers, and consumers while emphasizing the unique ecosystem benefits of rice farming, which provides surrogate wetland habitat for 230 wildlife species.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rice Footprint Report A comprehensive report developed in partnership with UC Davis and Point Blue Conservation Science that documents how rice farming impacts ecosystems, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat in the Sacramento Valley. Identifies conservation needs and management practices for species including salmon, waterfowl, and the Giant Garter Snake.
• Bid4Birds Program A conservation program that supports waterbird habitat by providing vital rest stops for millions of migratory ducks and geese along the Pacific Flyway as wetlands continue to disappear.
• Fish Food Program A program where Sacramento Valley rice fields produce food for endangered fish such as Chinook salmon, helping them complete their journey to the ocean. Record-setting 25,000 acres produce 147,500 lbs. of fish food.
• Rice 101 Educational Content Educational resources explaining how rice grows in California, including the six-step growing cycle (soil preparation, seeding, growth, water recycling, harvest, milling) and farming practices that support wildlife.
• California Rice Recipes A collection of recipes featuring California rice, including sushi rolls (Yuzu Ponzu Tuna Poke Bowl, El Nino Roll, Caterpillar Roll), main dishes (Spring Paella, Baked Salmon Cups), and various Asian cuisine preparations.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ducks UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDucks Unlimited is listed as a key conservation partner of the California Rice Commission. The partnership focuses on wetland habitat preservation and waterfowl conservation through rice farming practices. Ducks Unlimited works with rice farmers to implement winter flooding and other practices that benefit migratory waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway.
• California TroutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia Trout partners with the California Rice Commission on salmon conservation efforts. The partnership supports the Fish Food Program where rice fields produce food for endangered salmon, helping them complete their journey to the ocean.
• California WaterfowlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia Waterfowl is a conservation partner focused on waterfowl habitat in rice fields. The organization works with rice farmers on habitat programs and supports the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network designation for the Sacramento Valley.
• Point Blue Conservation SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoint Blue Conservation Science collaborated with UC Davis and the California Rice Commission to produce the groundbreaking Rice Footprint Report, which quantifies the environmental and economic impact of California rice farming on wildlife and ecosystems.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nature Conservancy partners with the California Rice Commission on conservation efforts, particularly related to wetland habitat preservation and species protection in the Sacramento Valley rice growing region.
• Audubon CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudubon California works with the California Rice Commission on bird conservation programs, leveraging rice fields as habitat for migratory and resident bird species along the Pacific Flyway.
• University of California DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Davis partnered with Point Blue Conservation Science and the California Rice Commission to produce the Rice Footprint Report. UC Davis scientists conduct research on salmon in rice fields and other conservation topics related to rice farming and wildlife habitat.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• USA Rice – Rice Foundation: Research and education arm affiliated with USA Rice, focused on rice sustainability, agronomic research, and consumer outreach. Comparable in its promotion of rice farming's environmental benefits and scientific research agenda.

Broad incumbents

• American Farm Bureau Federation: National umbrella agricultural trade association representing farmers across commodities. A broader incumbent that provides policy, advocacy, and communications services California Rice Commission members also rely on.

Direct peers

• California Strawberry Commission: California state agricultural commission representing strawberry growers and handlers, with marketing, research, and advocacy programs. Closely parallels the California Rice Commission's mandate, assessment-funded model, and member services.
• USA Rice Federation: National umbrella trade association for the U.S. rice industry representing farmers, millers, and allied businesses. Directly comparable to the California Rice Commission in advocacy, promotion, and policy representation, with California members in its constituency.
• California Table Grape Commission: State marketing and research commission representing California table grape growers, known for consumer marketing and international promotion. Directly comparable as a state-commission model driving demand and category leadership.
• Almond Board of California: California state agricultural commodity board under CDFA oversight, funded by grower assessments, focused on research, marketing, and sustainability. Strongest structural analog to the California Rice Commission's state-commission model.

Others

• National Wild Turkey Federation – Conservation Programs: Conservation NGO that partners with agricultural landowners on habitat programs. Comparable in that it collaborates with rice growers on the wildlife-habitat co-benefits central to the California Rice Commission's value proposition.

Regional players

• Arkansas Rice Federation: State-level rice industry association representing the largest U.S. rice-producing state. Mirrors the California Rice Commission's structure (grower/miller representation, advocacy, conservation) and competes for federal policy and research dollars.
• Louisiana Rice Growers Association: State grower association representing Louisiana rice farmers, a major U.S. producing state with similar waterfowl-habitat co-benefits. Comparable as a regional rice commodity body advocating for growers and conservation programs.
• Florida Citrus Mutual: Florida grower trade organization representing citrus producers, focused on advocacy, research, and disease/pest response. Comparable structure to the California Rice Commission as a state-level commodity body navigating environmental and regulatory pressures.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/norcalwater
• Xx.com/RiceNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaRice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Rice Commission