Organic Wild Rice: The Caviar Of All Grains

Wild Rice, Zizania palustris (found (primarily) in areas west and north of the Great Lakes) is an aquatic cereal grain that grows "wild" in isolated lake and river bed areas located primarily within the continent of North America. It is also native to ecologically similar regions located on the continent of Asia (Zizania latifolia). This evolutionarily ancient grain has been found in layers of the earth dating back some 12,000 years. In addition to its role as an important food staple for ancestral peoples, it has provided a unique habitat for fish and waterfowl for thousands of years.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer, talks to organic wild rice farmer, Tracey Wheeler from Naosap Harvest. This past October, Naosap was nominated for a Manitoba Food Matters Golden Carrot Award. This award recognizes businesses and individuals who are working towards a more just and sustainable food system in Manitoba. Naosap Harvest was very excited to win in our category as a Northern Community Food Champion. If you want to learn about how wild rice is grown, harvested, great recipe tips and some of its interesting history, stay tuned!