Get ready to get excited about rice!! I love rice. Brown rice, white rice, sushi rice! I LOVE IT ALL. Did you know that California land produces the world's highest rice crop yields? 2 million tons of rice contribute $1.3 billion dollars to our state's economy. If you head to the northern parts of our beautiful state you'll see some of the flooded rice fields, often on land that has poor drainage, making it unsuitable for other crops. The majority of California's rice is grown within 100 miles of the State Capitol; over 95%! Commercial production began in 1912 in Butte County, even though rice was introduced during the Gold Rush.
American Commodity Company is one of the largest rice companies in the heart of California's rice country. They produce short and medium grain rice within this state and medium grain rice from other parts of the country as well. Their customer base is worldwide, which seems obvious as you view their milling and packaging plant in Williams; it is huge! And it's clearly visible as you drive along the 5 Interstate. I like looking for landmarks on road trips - like Truck Village in Weed, CA (a rather cool site) and all the other giant buildings and companies like this one.
The ACC company itself is fairly new (2000) and this particular facility has the newest technology. For instance, they generate more energy using solar technology than they use every year and they are constantly finding new ways to reduce their environmental impact. Water use efficiency has increased dramatically for rice production companies (including ACC) over the last 30 years, and is expected to continue in that positive direction.
ACC has three facilities: The largest being this location in Williams, and ones also in Willows and in the Southern Sacramento Valley. They are an industry and company that really contribute to biodiversity. CA rice production provides approximately 500,000 acres of safe habitat annually to waterfowl and other species whose survival relies on wetlands habitat. Development through the central valley has significantly reduced the acres of wetland available to these animals, and flooded rice fields have become more and more important to around 230 species of wildlife. Rice fields in Sacramento Valley have international significance as specially designated Shorebird Habitat. So think about that next time you have a bowl of rice or your favorite Nigiri selection. You're doing something good for our state and it's animals. Who knew rice could be so exciting, right?! :)
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