Canadian wild rice growers want their product to wear its purity on its sleeve.
They want to make sure that when the federal government sets out the organic certification guidelines for wild rice, its standards are higher than those the American organic industry is using.
Canadian Wild Rice Council spokesperson Vern Guttman said loose standards south of the border have allowed fertilized and sewage-tainted paddy rice grown in California to call itself organic.
That is a threat to the Canadian industry, Guttman said, because the all-natural industry here has much higher costs, and has to sell its product for much more.
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Producers are hoping a unique Canadian organic wild rice classification will separate their rice from cheaper U.S. product.
“We want to get the word out that we have an absolutely pure product that’s good to eat and healthy for you,” said Guttman, a Pinawa, Man., producer.
“With a true organic certification, there will be control right from the grower to the processor.”
The Canadian industry has been faltering, as lower prices have driven growers out of business.
Guttman said the classification may make the future of Canadian growers a little rosier.
