Our wild rice is manually harvested from Minnesota lakes and rivers using basic hand tools and push-pole navigation. Natural, nutritious, and delicious - you will enjoy the nutty flavor of our wild rice!
Harvested wild rice helped the native people survive the long, cold winters Minnesota is known for. Native Americans still harvest wild rice to eat and to honor the tradition which was so important to their ancestors' way of life.
We are experienced wild rice harvesters. This ensures you are getting the best natural wild rice available each season. We are selective and will only harvest wild rice that is ripe and ready to be picked.
Natural wild rice grows once annually in Minnesota. Although harvesting wild rice has been done for centuries, not much has changed over time. It is still a labor-intensive endeavor that can involve tough conditions such as excessive heat, fighting the wind, and avoiding approaching storms. Our harvest is completed by a two-person team; one will push the canoe through the wild rice bed while the other picks the wild rice.
Two wooden sticks called "knockers" are used -- one stick to gently guide the wild rice plants over the side of the canoe, and the other stick to tap (or "knock") the wild rice plants to fall the ripened wild rice into the canoe. This is repeated over and over until the canoe is filled up or the time to end harvesting for the day has arrived.
In the 1950's, due to the increased demand and short supply of native/natural wild rice, commercial wild rice growing and harvesting operations were developed. Most of these operations today are in California, Minnesota, and Canada. The cultivated wild rice grown in these operations is NOT the same as the wild rice we are selling.
Cultivated wild rice is grown on man-made rice paddies, where the water levels are managed to try to produce the ideal conditions which sometimes do not exist in nature. The wild rice is typically harvested mechanically, usually with air boats which will take all the wild rice in the paddy, even if it's not ready (ripe).
Although these wild rice "farms" ensure a steady supply of product, it is widely known and agreed that the natural wild rice is superior in taste and appearance. The natural wild rice we are selling is not genetically modified in any way, has a natural nutty flavor, and will cook in less time than the cultivated wild rice.
We know if you try our natural wild rice you will notice the difference!
Wash wild rice by running under cold water. Optional -- soak the wild rice overnight. Add four cups of water to one cup wild rice, salt optional. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 25-30 minutes until the wild rice is fluffed as desired. Drain excess water. One cup of wild rice makes four to five cups cooked.
You may store your wild rice at room temperature. Keep it dry and the shelf life is indefinite.
Thank you for your business!
Frink Wild Rice
