WILD RICE

Manoomin is the Ojibwe word for wild rice. The exact translation of the word is 'good berry' - the food that grows on water. Wild rice has been growing in the Great Lakes area as long as historical records show.  The natural area for its growth includes most of modern-day Northeast Minnesota, Northwest Wisconsin, and also portions of Ontario, Canada. Minnesota is the largest producer of wild rice. 

The Dakota and Ojibwe have been harvesting wild rice from lakes and rivers for many centuries, and it remains a sacred gift and traditional food source for Native people. Manoomin is an important part of stories and ceremonies. Wild rice has also become a farm crop also known as paddy-grown or cultivated wild rice. Both types of wild rice are available to buy here in Minnesota. 

Wild rice has many health benefits packed with protein and fiber. It is also relatively low in calories. Wild rice contains Manganese, an antioxidant that plays a role in keeping the mitochondria in your cells healthy.

hand-harvested or lake-harvested: grown wild in a river or lake and harvested by hand, with two people sitting in a canoe, one of them knocking rice into the canoe with a pole while the other paddles slowly

paddy-grown or cultivated: grown in a flooded field of a farm

You may see differences in the visual appearance of wild rice, pricing, and quantity available depending on the time of year and depending on the type of wild rice procured.

Sourcing Manoomin (Wild Rice) Guide

In addition to the resources below, find wild rice resources to incorporate into your program on the Minnesota Department of Education website.