Good For the Earth, the Community, and Business.
Sustainability at Sun Valley Rice
California is the ideal growing region for Japonica rice, thanks to its long-standing, dedicated farming families, fertile soil, ideal growing temperatures, and pristine water from the Northern California mountains. Sun Valley Rice couldn’t exist without these resources, and our sustainability efforts include:
- Sourcing local rice grown within 100 miles of our mill
- Partnering with family farmers who practice responsible, sustainable farming
- Powering our warehouse with solar energy
- Offering eco-friendly packaging options
- Decreasing food waste going to landfill
- Reducing chemical inputs
- Creating waterfowl and shorebird habitats
- Assisting struggling salmon populations
- Improving water and air quality
An Eco-Friendly Industry
The California rice industry takes environmental stewardship very seriously. Over the past 30 years, we have:
- Improved land use efficiency 30%
- Improved water use efficiency 40%
- Reduced emissions 80%
- Reduced energy use 22%
- Increased winter waterfowl and shorebird habitat 10x
- Had an insignificant amount of soil loss
- Produced a GMO-free product
Future goal: A 10% improvement in these metrics by the year 2030.
Source: California Rice Commission
Sustaining Small Family Farms
Growers are the heart of Sun Valley’s business, and we will always value our relationships with them. That means fair labor practices and ethical, competitive returns. It also means supporting the community that supports us through a number of local causes. You can feel good about how we treat our growers and everyone else we do business with.
Quality and Food Safety
Sun Valley Rice promises our customers that every bag will be the best rice possible. Each of our processes is backed by our commitment to cutting-edge technology and industry-leading standards and practices.
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
- Numerous growing and milling certifications
- Strict sampling protocol
- Food factory assessments
- Leading-edge shelf life policy
- Higher grading specs than U.S. No. 1 rice
Exacting Standards
Our mill’s internal grading specifications greatly exceed U.S. No. 1 rice and international requirements, including domestic Japanese — the highest standard in the world! The result:
- Preferred by retail consumers: moist, softer mouth feel
- Preferred by Japanese sushi restaurants: slightly less moisture to allow for absorption of the vinegar/sugar mixture; individual kernel integrity
- Low fissuring prevents breakage when cooked
- High whiteness
- Free of defects
Your customers can also be confident that all of our products are:
Gluten Free
Kosher
Non-GMO
Vegetarian
Sodium Free
Non-Allergenic
Trans Fat Free
Cholesterol Free
Low Glycemic Index
Mill Accreditations
- Organic and Non-GMO: California Certified Organic Farmers
- Gluten-Free: Gluten Intolerance Group
- Whole Grain: Oldways – Whole Grain Council
- Kashruth: Orthodox Rabbinic Council
- Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certified facility under the FSSC 22000
- FDA Food Defense Plan
- FSMA/FDA compliant food-safety trainings
- HARPC Food-Safety Trainings with 3 PCQIs (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual)
- HACCP training that is recognized by the International HACCP Alliance
How Can We Help?
Learn more about our present and future sustainability and quality efforts.
