Established in 1995, Lotus Foods is a specialty rice company that has
pioneered the introduction of exotic rice handcrafted on small family
farms in remote areas of the world such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China,
into the US market. Each rice varietal is distinguished by its terroir*
and treasured for its distinctive cooking quality, taste, texture, aroma,
color, and nutritional value.
Lotus Foods was founded with the intent and vision to support sustainable
global agriculture by promoting production of traditional heirloom rice
varieties, many of which may otherwise have become extinct, while enabling
the small family rice farmer to earn an honorable living. Lotus Foods is
the only US-based company with the unique vision and commitment to seek out
small family rice farmers in developing countries and provide them a means
of economic support through access to a global and sustainable marketplace economy.
A small company with a big mission, Lotus Foods, has emerged as a leader in the
specialty rice category, and perhaps most important to the principals, made a big
difference in the quality of life of it's family farm suppliers. Lotus Foods
provides consumers with new choices by offering a rare collection of rice that is
the high value alternative to commodity and other standard rice currently available
from domestic growers and other importers.
*Terroir (/te-rwär/ in French) was originally a French term in wine and coffee
appreciation used to denote the special characteristics of geography that
bestowed individuality upon the food product. It can be very loosely translated
as "a sense of place" which is embodied in certain qualities, and the sum of the
effects that the local environment has had on the manufacture of the product.
