I'd like to tell you a little bit about Oregon Jewel. It's a long story and I won't bore you with all the details, but let's just say I initially became interested in selling wild rice when I saw a chance to make some brownie points with my father-in-law. But that's another story. I have the unique opportunity to be involved in what promises to be a new farming industry here in Oregon. My father-in-law, Richard Bylund in Coburg, Oregon and his partner, Dave Rogers in Brownsville, Oregon are true pioneers. What has been most important for us, right from the start, is that we grow and sell as high a quality of wild rice as possible.

We are getting the word out to potential growers about the ecological and financial benefits of growing wild rice. You can take land that's not even good for growing rocks and by constructing paddies to grow wild rice, turn this land into a rich, marshland area. Native grasses, bushes, and trees grow in profusion around the paddies, providing food and shelter for animals that have been driven away by conventional farming practices. You can return something to the land and make money in the process. It's a very Oregon kinda thing to do.

Marty Stites
Sales Manager
Oregon Jewel