The yin and yang

(from left) Rice producer Michael Fruge chats with LSU AgCenter rice researchers Ida Wenefrida and Herry Utomo.

As a semi-dwarf, Frontière stands about 36 inches tall and has good lodging resistance. With the Cypress genetic background, it is moderately susceptible to rice blast and very susceptible to sheath blight.

Frontière has similar high-quality milling as Cypress, but its cook type falls between Cypress and Cocodrie — likely because of the higher protein levels, Utomo said.

In the field, growers manage Frontière as they would Cypress, although the higher-protein line yields about 10% less than Cypress. That is one of the agronomic traits Utomo and Wenefrida want to improve.

Lower glycemic index

What Gerard and Fruge have found is the higher protein-to-carbohydrate ratio helped reduce the grain’s glycemic index. The two funded a study by Toronto, Canada-based Inquis Clinical Research, which specializes in determining a product’s glycemic index and glycemic load.

Initially, Fruge said they presumed the glycemic index for Frontière would be similar to that for brown rice, which typically has a medium glycemic index.

“It came back low, way more than we had ever dreamed of,” Fruge said. “Brown rice versus white rice is a 10-point difference. Well, we went from 70 for long grain to 41.”

Regular white rice has a glycemic index of 73. Considered on the high side, it means that the carbohydrates are easily digested, absorbed and metabolized. This results in a quick spike in blood sugar.

While a sprinter may want that quick burst of energy, someone with diabetes who is looking to stabilize blood sugar levels may not. But Frontière has a glycemic index of less than 55, or in the low category. That means when someone eats a serving, the starches are slowly broken down, provide a more sustained energy source and don’t produce large blood sugar spikes.

In many cases, the low-glycemic index also means that people with diabetes or pre-diabetes can now eat Frontière rice without the same health concerns as conventional white rice, Utomo said.

Cahokia gains momentum

Gerard is in his fourth year growing and marketing Frontière under his Cahokia brand, and he has seen demand continue to grow. He offers it as brown or white rice in 1- and 2-pound consumer bags as well as 25-pound bulk bags.

, Initially, Louisiana rice producer Michael Fruge marketed his Frontiere variety under the Prairie Acadian Rice brand, which gave a nod to Southwest Louisiana where it’s grown. After a marketing review, he changed the name to Parish Rice to reach a wider audience but still recognize Louisiana.

Most of his sales are to food service, although he also sells to area grocery stores and directly to consumers.

“It’s gaining momentum,” Gerard said. “It’s always slower than you want, but we’re definitely gaining momentum. The key is marketing and promoting the product in the right arena and getting in front of the right people. We’ve got the right person in place with marketing doing an unbelievable job.”

With it also comes education. Gerard said he regularly receives emails from consumers asking how he removes gluten from his rice (rice is naturally gluten free) and whether his rice is nonGMO (yes it is, since there is no commercial GMO rice).

As a cyclist and triathlete himself, Gerard said he originally thought a large portion of his customer base would be athletes seeking the sustained energy release offered by the variety. But he said the market actually is quite diverse.

“Different people like it for different reasons,” he said. “You have a group that like it for the low-glycemic scores because they are diabetic or pre-diabetic — that’s a big draw. There are other people where that’s not a big deal. They buy it for the quality, taste and texture. (Frontière) is very close to Cypress, and Cypress is a good quality rice.”

In addition, many consumers in the Chicago metropolitan area, which is only about six hours from Gerard’s farm, like Cahokia rice because it is locally grown.

A nod to Louisiana

Fruge said he became interested in Frontière as part of his goal to grow rice varieties he could market under his own label. He and Gerard came to a sub-licensing agreement since their marketing territories do not overlap. Initially, Fruge marketed Frontière under the Prairie Acadian Rice brand, which highlighted the area around Eunice where he grew the rice.

After having a local marketing agency review his branding, he said he decided to rename it Parish Rice. Although many people in Southwest Louisiana are familiar with Acadiana, those outside the area may not be.

“They asked me about rebranding, and I basically told them no,” Fruge said. “I wanted it tied to Eunice. They made me realize if I go out of state, a lot of people understand Louisiana and the Cajun culture and food. They convinced me to tie it to Louisiana and not just Eunice.”

The word “parish” carries out that goal since Louisiana is the only state in the union to use those unique administrative districts. It’s also a term with which many consumers are familiar.

So far, most of Fruge’s customers have been food service, including university athletic departments. As the pandemic wanes and people eat out more, he said he hopes demand also will increase.

“We’re starting to see an uptick,” he said. “More and more people are starting to find out about it.” 

RICEAWARDS

{ } Horizon Ag, Rice Farming and USA Rice are proud to bring you the recipients of the 2021 Rice Awards. The program highlights three honorees for their contributions to the success of the U.S. rice industry through the Rice Farmer of the Year, the Rice Industry Award and the Rice Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nicole Montna Van Vleck

RICE FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD

In the late 1930s, Dutch and Emma Montna developed a parcel of land in Sutter County, California, into a successful rice operation known as Montna Farms. eir son, Al, and his wife, Gail, purchased the ranch in the 1970s, and then sold the majority of the business to their daughters, Nicole and Michelle, in 2000.

“My dad grew the rice ranch in the 1970s, and I came back to the farm in 1994,” Nicole says. “Together, we continued to expand its size and vertically integrate by adding a second dryer and more storage to allow us to identity preserve our varieties.”

Nicole says her father, Al, has always felt strongly about succession planning. He decided to step back about 10 years ago and form a board of family members and others. Today, Al serves as chairman of Montna Farms, and Nicole is president and CEO.

“Our main focus is on producing super high-premium, Japonica-style short-grain varieties — Koshihikari, Yumegokochi and Sansanishiki — for JFC Foods, which is owned by Kikkoman,” Nicole says. “We grow the entire Tamanishiki brand for them. e rice is milled in Williams, California, at American Commodity Company that we own in partnership with the Rue and Crutch eld families.”

Start to nish, the short grains are grown on Montna Farms, milled at ACC and then delivered to JFC, which distributes the Tamanishiki brand throughout the United States and internationally.

“We also grow M-105 and M-206 medium grain varieties,” Nicole says. “ is year, we tried M-211 — a new high-yielding, good-quality premium variety.”

Chris Crutch eld, ACC president and CEO says, “By implementing sustainability practices, closely monitoring the Montna family’s drying and storage operation, and serving as a partner at ACC, Nicole helps ensure the highest quality product goes into every bag of Tamanishiki rice that’s bought at the store or eaten in a restaurant. All of that, and she grows the best tasting sushi rice in the world. But I may be a bit biased there.”

At Montna Farms, conservation is also a priority. In 2000, they implemented a working lands easement on most of the ranch with Wetlands American Trust — Ducks Unlimited’s easement holdings entity. ey added a layer to the agreement in which they provide water every year immediately following harvest until March 1 for ducks and geese migrating down the Paci c Flyway.

Subsequently, the family operation has worked with the Nature Conservancy, California Waterfowl Association, the National Audubon Society and Point Blue. More recently, Montna Farms is cooperating with California Trout and UC Davis on salmon recovery e orts. e projects involve raising juvenile salmon in rice elds to assist with survival of the sh.

Not only is the third-generation rice farmer involved with their California rice operation throughout the year, she also makes time to promote and sustain the U.S. rice industry.

“My passion is trying to solve di cult policy issues by bringing industry people together constructively and collaboratively,” Nicole says. “I believe it’s incumbent on all of us to serve in areas where we have expertise. We need to do this so the U.S. rice industry will continue to thrive for generations to come.

“When I took on the USA Rice Farmers chair position, I enjoyed interacting with growers in other states to nd policy to strengthen and bene t rice. e other state chairs and the USA Rice sta worked collectively on a Farm Policy Task Force to get strong programs passed. In the last Farm Bill negotiations, we were able to maintain our reference prices, include some new conservation bene ts and expand the de nition of the family farm.”

Mississippi rice farmer Kirk Satter eld, who later took over as USA Rice Farmers chair, says, “We have all bene ted from Nicole’s service and dedication to the organization over the past two years. Her tenure as chair could quite possibly go down as both one of the most di cult and the most successful during these historic times.”

When asked about her reaction upon learning she had been selected for the award, Nicole said, “I was completely surprised but very pleased. It put a big smile on my face.”

For her dedication to producing an excellent product and channeling her passion to sustain the U.S. rice industry, we are proud to name Nicole Montna Van Vleck as the 2021 Rice Farmer of the Year.

PHOTOS BY VICKY BOYD

Nicole Montna Van Vleck (center) poses with her family at Montna Farms. From left: Christian Van Vleck (son), Al Montna (father), Vittoria Van Vleck (daughter) and Stan Van Vleck (husband).

Nicole Montna Van Vleck

Yuba City, California

• B.S., Political Science with a Business minor,

University of California, Los Angeles. • President and CEO, Montna Farms. • California Rice Industry Association, chair. • Immediate past chair of California Producers

Group and USA Rice Farmers board. • Serves on California Rice Commission, USA

Rice Federation, The Rice Foundation and

USA Rice PAC board of directors. • Past chair of USA Rice Communications

Committee and past co-chair of Rice Sustainability and Competitiveness Task Force. • Past chair of state Farm Service Agency board and State Fair ag advisory board. • Northern California Water Association board of directors. • UC Davis Dean’s advisory board for agriculture and environmental sciences. • River Valley Community Bank board of directors. • 2011-12 USA Rice Leadership Program.

California Agricultural Leadership Program,

Class XXVI. • Husband, Stan Van Vleck. Two children:

Christian and Vittoria.