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Our Story

Over 100 Years and Counting

With a rich history spanning over a century, Riceland has defied the odds to serve its farmer-members throughout it all. Members have reaped the rewards of the cooperative business model, and Riceland has grown to serve its members’ needs throughout the years.

Take a walk through our history and learn more about how the cooperative grew into the largest miller and marketer of rice in the U.S.

A green combine harvester gathers crops in a field, kicking up dust under a clear sky during harvest season.
Riceland

History

For more than 100 years, Riceland Foods has been driven by farmer-owners, innovation, and a shared mission to feed the world.

1910
Rice Production in Arkansas
Farmers using horse-drawn equipment to harvest rice in a field, early 1900s.
1921
Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative Association was created
Exterior view of Stuttgart Rice Mill Company’s Mill A building, showing railroad cars and water tower.
1926
Reorganized as The Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative
1928
Purchased Rice Mill in Stuttgart
Panoramic view of multiple buildings of Stuttgart Rice Mill Company with water towers and train cars.
1939
Purchased Rice Mill in Jonesboro
1944
First combine harvesting, artificial drying and bulk storage of rice
Farmer operating a McCormick-Deering combine harvester in a rice field.
1946
Launched Riceland Rice consumer facing brand
Riceland Rice boxes on a packaging conveyor belt labeled 'Extra Long Grain'.
1958
Initial marketing of soybeans; Creation of Arkansas Grain Corporation
Arkansas Grain Corporation’s large grain silos in Stuttgart, Arkansas newspaper clipping.
1960
Soybean processing plant opens in Stuttgart
1970
Riceland Foods, Inc. became new cooperative name; Opened HQ in Stuttgart
Aerial view of Riceland Foods processing plant and administrative complex with adjacent parking lots.
1973
Launched Riceland’s Political Action Committee (PAC)
1977
Renovation and rebuilding of Stuttgart packaging, warehousing & shipping facilities; Current Jonesboro mill opened
Two workers operating rice packaging machinery in a mill, wearing overalls and hats.
1980
Opened Pendleton terminal on the Arkansas River
Modern Riceland grain elevator and silos at a riverside port with docked barges.
1985
Named Arkansas Food Company of the Year
Display of Riceland and Chefway branded rice, oil, and packaged products in a wooden kitchen cabinet.
1989
1M metric tons of milled rice record; Rivland partnership established
1993
Formed RITO partnership to produce rice bran oil
1999
Launched the Riceland Foods Foundation
Logo for The Riceland Foods Foundation in light blue and red text.
2002
Purchased New Madrid rice mill
Aerial view of a modern Riceland grain facility with silos and processing buildings near a river.
2020
Launched new consumer packaging and branding
Assortment of packaged Riceland rice products including white, brown, jasmine, sushi, and basmati varieties.
2022
Launched Riceland Carbon Ready Programs
Riceland’s ‘Ingrain Good’ sustainability initiative featuring a duck and grain graphic.
United We Grow USA BadgeSmiling farmer in a Riceland cap standing in front of a blue tractor inside a barn.

Cooperative Impact Cultivated Together

Riceland’s Influence

The collective power of many always prevails over the individual. Riceland’s cooperative roots were born during a tumultuous time where farmers were struggling to market their crops individually and make fair profit to cover their costs. Once farmers realized their collective power of pooling their resources and sharing their costs, they established a cooperative business model to stabilize their market outlets for the future.

Riceland’s ImpacT

Riceland’s advantage of being a cooperative is it’s farmer-owned and farmer led. Cooperatives help members gain market access, take advantage of business opportunities they couldn’t do individually, and take advantage of the economies of scale that come with its larger size. That’s the value of the cooperative today. Because Riceland takes a large quantity of rice out of the market in the fall and gradually markets it over the course of a year, it creates support for the economy, which everyone benefits from.

Cultivate Opportunity Through the Cooperative

Since its inception in 1921, Riceland has embraced a culture of growth and innovation, recognizing that excellence arises from fostering purpose within a community.

Two Riceland employees sharing a friendly moment during an outdoor workplace event.
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Meet the Members

Every field has a face. Get to know the Riceland farmers growing the crops that feed the world—and powering the cooperative we all share.

Meet the Members