GROWING INNOVATION

The story of innovation at Lundberg Family Farms dates back to the 1930s. Albert and Frances Lundberg lived in Nebraska during the Dust Bowl, learning a merciless lesson about the combined effects of overplowing and drought. In 1937, when they took their family west to the small Butte County town of Richvale, the Lundbergs decided to do things differently by working in partnership with nature and prioritizing soil health in every step of the process. Over the course of their children’s and grandchildren’s lives, Lundberg Family Farms has become known for pioneering organic rice farming practices that tend to soil, air, water, and wildlife as carefully as their crops.

A History Of Innovation

Albert Lundberg taught his four sons—Eldon, Wendell, Harlan, and Homer—to leave the land better than they

Lundberg Farms

One of today’s best-known organic rice farms. @LUNDBERGFARMS found it. They allowed fields to fallow, rotated crops, and incorporated rice straw.

One of today’s best-known organic rice farming techniques was even born of a failed Lundberg field. The Lundbergs became early adopters of organic farming in the late 1960s, before the practice even had a name, and weed control was a perpetual challenge. One field of organic rice was so overgrown with weeds that it seemed unsalvageable, so they dried it up. That’s when they discovered that the weeds died faster than the rice, leaving them free to turn the water back on and continue growing the crop.

The Drive To Improve

That single event changed the trajectory of organic rice farming in California, and Lundberg continues to use deep water and dry-up techniques to kill weeds organically—no herbicides needed.

Soil health and organic farming are part of Lundberg’s larger commitment to establishing benchmarks in environmental health. The company offsets its operations with 100% renewable energy, including 1.9 MW of solar energy generated on-site, and it’s worked with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to better understand the impact farmers have on the environment.

To that end, the Lundbergs flood a portion of their fields each winter to replicate California’s once-abundant wetlands. This not only helps restore nutrients to the soil by decomposing leftover rice straw, but also provides habitat for thousands of ducks, geese, shorebirds, sandhill cranes, and other wintering waterfowl. Once the birds move on, the water is returned to rivers and streams, where zooplankton from the fields support the salmon population. And before they start their tractors in the spring, the Lundbergs work with California Waterfowl to recover eggs from every field where ducks have nested. Over the years, more than 30,000 ducklings have been rescued from Lundberg’s fields!

Still, the Lundbergs aren’t known to settle. While returning rice straw to the soil provides clear benefits to the birds, fish, and fields, the Lundbergs monitor any associated methane released so they can continue to leave the land better than they found it.

This ongoing commitment to sustainability earned Lundberg one of Rodale Institute’s Organic Pioneer Awards for 2020, a prestigious achievement for a family-owned business with roots that go back nearly a century.

A Butte County Treasure

Lundberg’s relationship to Butte County is an integral part of the company’s identity. In addition to its own unique varieties of rice, Lundberg grows public varieties from the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, and the local community has always been proud of Lundberg’s legacy of stewardship. While 2020 saw the farm temporarily close its on-site store and tours for safety reasons, Lundberg has ramped up its online presence by sharing videos, all manner of delicious recipes (including vegan and vegetarian dishes), and glimpses into farm life and production through social media— friendly reminders that soon, all will be welcome to once again experience Butte County’s vibrant rice farming culture firsthand.