In 1972, while studying plant genetics at the University of California,
Davis, new graduate student Ken Foster became intrigued
with wild rice but never thought that it would become a part of
his life’s occupation. At that time, wild rice was new to cultivation,
in general, and especially to California.
“I was enamored with the idea of developing a new grain crop
with the potential to become a significant new crop,” Foster says.
“The grain had, and still has, a good reputation as a nutritious, gourmet
food product.”
After graduating with a PhD in plant genetics, Foster initially
worked with beans, garbanzos, black eyes and potatoes. However, he
had a very good friend, Dennis DaVia, who was an excellent businessman
and farmer and was interested in growing “something different.”
Foster and DaVia became partners in Nor-Cal Wild Rice, Inc.
“This venture gave me a chance to put into practice what I had
learned in my graduate studies about the evolution of crops from
wild plants,” Foster says.
Although breeding wild rice may have been fascinating, it was not financially feasible when only 2,000 acres were being “farm
grown” at the time. Because the industry was small, Foster and DaVia
had to vertically integrate to have enough business to support their seed
company. Thus, they began growing, processing and marketing wild
rice themselves. Then, tragically, DaVia died in 1986, and his wife
Nancy, who also is an excellent businessperson, became partners
with Foster.
Over the course of 20 years, the wild rice industry continued to grow
to almost 20,000 acres, and California was producing two-thirds of the
world’s supply. In 2007, as the wild rice market grew, Foster and
DaVia were able to sell their processing and marketing business and
turn the focus back to seed research and production under the new
company name Kennan Corporation.
Diversified Client Base
Today, Kennan Corporation does contract research in rice, mostly
breeding, for local clients in California, as well as Southern and
international clients.
“We deal with private entities
who want proprietary
information or proprietary
products or both,” Foster says.
“However, we are still breeding
wild rice, growing it and
selling seed from the wild rice
varieties that we have developed
to farmers.”
There are only two wild
rice breeding programs in the
country – Kennan Corporation
and the University of
Minnesota.
“We have come full circle
since the whole idea in the
beginning was to be a seed
company,” Foster explains.
“We bought this facility in
Pleasant Grove in 2006. It had
been a very well-equipped
Anheuser-Busch rice-breeding station, so it was a great opportunity
for us.”
Kennan Corporation owns 8 and one-half acres and leases the rest
of the seed and nursery blocks from a third-generation rice farmer.
Processors And Production
On the wild rice side of the business, Kennan Corporation’s function
is to develop the lines, assess them and, prior to final release, get
approval from the processors, who like a dark, shiny black color,
kernel strength and, in general, would prefer to have larger kernels
than smaller ones.
“The wild rice actually is fermented slightly after harvest, prior to
processing, which helps darken the kernels,” Foster explains. “So
instead of just selecting for uniformity and the color itself, we are trying
to move to a pretty color.
“I believe the processors also will like a kernel that is somewhat
more slender because cook time is a big issue with wild rice,” he
adds. “The slimmer the kernel, the less time it takes to cook. A
longer, slimmer kernel improves the overall product.”
Out in the field, wild rice production practices are similar to those
of rice. For example, they are both grown in a paddy and use the
same type of fertilizer although not necessarily the same amount.
There are a few pest control materials, such as Shark and Clincher herbicides
and a couple of pyrethroids that are registered for use in wild
rice through the IR4 program, which is for minor crop registrations.
“We’ve been able to get these materials because they were already
registered in rice, and there are so many similarities between the
cultures of rice and wild rice,” Foster says.
At the end of the growing season, once a farmer harvests the crop,
he or she takes the wild rice to one of three California processors
who then sell it to the end user. The processors are located in Live
Oak, Biggs and Colusa.
Personal Goal: Leaving A Legacy
When asked what continues to spark his passion for wild rice after
all these years, Foster is quick to reply.
“Wild rice breeding has been a teaser from the get-go,” he says.
“After 30 years of breeding, wild rice has not been domesticated.
Wild rice plant breeding has been one of the most frustrating and fascinating breeding challenges of my life.
“Our early success with the development of the hybrid system,
and the ensuing patent, kept my interest piqued,” Foster adds. “We are
anticipating a major breakthrough in improving plant type in the
very near future. All of these discoveries, big and small, have kept me
motivated over the years with the ultimate goal of making wild rice
a viable, domesticated crop for food consumption in the
United States.”
Although Kennan Corporation always strives to be a successful
niche market business, Ken and Nancy have a more personal goal for
the company, too. They want to leave a legacy in honor of Dennis
DaVia to his two sons who never had the opportunity to get to know
their dad. And, according to Foster, wild rice plant breeding at
Kennan provides an avenue for them to accomplish this.
Contact Carroll Smith at (901) 767-4020 or csmith@onegrower.com. |
