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.

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

Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative Association was created

Reorganized as The Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative
Purchased Rice Mill in Stuttgart

Purchased Rice Mill in Jonesboro
First combine harvesting, artificial drying and bulk storage of rice

Launched Riceland Rice consumer facing brand

Initial marketing of soybeans; Creation of Arkansas Grain Corporation

Soybean processing plant opens in Stuttgart
Riceland Foods, Inc. became new cooperative name; Opened HQ in Stuttgart

Launched Riceland’s Political Action Committee (PAC)
Renovation and rebuilding of Stuttgart packaging, warehousing & shipping facilities; Current Jonesboro mill opened

Opened Pendleton terminal on the Arkansas River

Named Arkansas Food Company of the Year

1M metric tons of milled rice record; Rivland partnership established
Formed RITO partnership to produce rice bran oil
Launched the Riceland Foods Foundation

Purchased New Madrid rice mill

Launched new consumer packaging and branding

Launched Riceland Carbon Ready Programs


Cooperative Impact Cultivated Together
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 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.
