Training Example: Lotus Foods – Review the Data, Give Your Score & Compare to the Real AI Evaluation

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[H2] A LOVE STORY
Our love story began when we first tasted an amazing
black rice during our travels in China . It was called “tribute rice”, or “longevity rice” because it was reserved for Chinese Emperors to ensure their good health and long life. That story, then became our story...
DISCOVER

[IMG: Organic Wide White Rice Ramen (4 Ramen Cakes)]

Organic Wide White Rice Ramen (4 Ramen Cakes)

2 reviews

Regular price

$6.99
/ 10 Oz Bag

Sale price

$6.99

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Regenerative Organic White Baby Basmati Rice]

Regenerative Organic White Baby Basmati Rice

2 reviews

Regular price

$5.49
/ 15 Oz Bag

Sale price

$5.49

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Organic Brown Udon Rice Noodles]

Organic Brown Udon Rice Noodles

449 reviews

Regular price

$5.29
/ 8 Oz Bag

Sale price

$5.29

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[H3] Meet Our Farming Community

[H3] PraTithi Organic Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2019

[H4] location
Uttar Pradesh, India

[H4] Product
White & Brown Basmati Rice

[H4] about
PraTithi Organic Foods, a pioneer and leading champion of organic farming in India, partners with small and marginal farmers, preserving traditional knowledge and local crop varieties with eco-friendly techniques, like the System of Rice Intensification (More Crop Per Drop®) to produce the best yields and quality. Farmers producing heirloom Basmati rice for Lotus Foods qualified for Regenerative Organic Certified®/Gold.

[H3] Dalian HongRen Whole Grain Foodstuffs Co., Ltd.
Lotus Foods Partner Since 1995

[H4] location
Heilongjian province, China

[H4] Product
Organic Forbidden® Rice, Heirloom Forbidden® Rice, Organic Jade Pearl Rice™

[H4] about
One our first and longest suppliers, Dalian Hongren in China has been a partner with us for over twenty years. Both our black Heirloom Forbidden Rice® and black Organic Forbidden Rice® are grown on small family farms in the Heilongjiang region of China's far Northeast provinces – an area that has some of the most fertile and unpolluted soils in China and has become the ‘organic’ food basket for the country. They also supply us with our Organic Jade Pearl Rice™, a consumer favorite, due to its fresh green color and taste.

[H3] Foodtech Solutions (FTS) / Amnatcharoen Organic Agricultural Community Enterprise Network
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2017

[H4] location
Amantcharoen Province, Thailand

[H4] Product
Organic White & Brown Jasmine Rice

[H4] about
Together, FoodTech Solutions and Amnatcharoen Organic Agricultural Community Enterprise Network are addressing the power imbalance between large millers and small producers. They apply ecological principles to revive on-farm soil fertility and produce certified organic rice to boost net farm income and community resilience. Network members meet for two hours of training each month and to exchange best practices.The Homali Rice they produce is some of the best aromatic rice grown in Thailand.

[H3] Oasis / Surin Family Farms
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2019

[H4] location
Surin, Thailand

[H4] Product
Organic Red Rice

[H4] about
OASIS (Organic Agriculture Social Enterprise Innovators of Surin) is a FLO-certified Small Producer Organization with about 650 small-scale farmer-members in Surin, Thailand. Many use More Crop Per Drop® methods. Founded in 2018, OASIS enables small-scale farmers to access premium markets. It has grown over the past few years to market red and white jasmine rice in addition to diversification with herbs and vegetables. OASIS exports its rice through its sister company, Surin Family Farms.

[H3] Cambodian Organic Farm Enterprise (COFE) Co., Ltd.,
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2008

[H4] location
Takeo, Cambodia

[H4] Product
Organic White & Brown Jasmine Rice

[H4] about
COFE grew out of pioneering work by the Cambodian NGO CEDAC to improve farmers’ food security and health by showing farmers how to grow more rice without toxic agrochemicals using System of Rice Intensification (More Crop Per Drop®). When formerly food-deficit farmers began producing surplus rice CEDAC organized them into organic cooperatives to sell their traditional jasmine. Lotus Foods was COFE’s first international buyer and sources organic and fair trade jasmine rice from them to this day. Fair trade premiums have been invested by communities to dig wells and ponds, buy milling equipment and even build a community store and meeting center.

[H3] Bloom Agro
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2009

[H4] location
Central Java, Indonesia

[H4] Product
Organic Tricolor Blend Rice

[H4] about
Bloom Agro supplies a blend of traditional Indonesian whole grain red and brown rices that make our Tricolor Blend Rice. This rice is certified organic and was the first rice ever to qualify for Fair for Life, the most demanding fair trade certification that exists. Besides fair pricing, it encompasses many other social and environmental concerns, including water use and gender equity. Bloom Agro partners with a group of youthful, entrepreneurial famers in Central Java.

[H3] ±5000

household members benefit from organic & Fair Trade premiums

[H3] 40%

less methane emitted from fields under More Crop Per Drop® practices

[H3] ±300

hours/acre less work for women with women-friendly practices

[H3] 500

million gallons less water used annually with More Crop Per Drop®

RECIPES

[H2] Edamame Rice Ramen Noodle Salad

This vibrant noodle salad features tender rice ramen tossed with crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, and protein-rich edamame in an Asian-inspired dressing.

MAKE

RECIPES

[H2] Sesame Ramen Noodles

This quick and easy recipe is packed with flavor from the creamy, nutty sauce that has just the right amount of kick.

MAKE

RECIPES

[H2] Kimchi Fried Rice

Bold and packed with umami, this easy kimchi fried rice comes together in minutes for a satisfying, no-fuss meal.

MAKE

[IMG: Organic Wide White Rice Ramen (4 Ramen Cakes)]

Organic Wide White Rice Ramen (4 Ramen Cakes)

2 reviews

Regular price

$6.99
/ 10 Oz Bag

Sale price

$6.99

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen (4 Ramen Cakes)]

Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen (4 Ramen Cakes)

34 reviews

Regular price

$6.99
/ 10 Oz Bag

Sale price

$6.99

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Mediterranean salad with lotus foods organic jade pearl rice, vegetables, and nuts in a bowl on a wooden surface.]

Organic Jade Pearl Rice™

6 reviews

Regular price

$7.49
/ 15 Oz Bag

Sale price

$7.49

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Regenerative Organic White Baby Basmati Rice]

Regenerative Organic White Baby Basmati Rice

2 reviews

Regular price

$5.49
/ 15 Oz Bag

Sale price

$5.49

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Organic Traditional Pad Thai Rice Noodles]

Organic Traditional Pad Thai Rice Noodles

38 reviews

Regular price

$5.29
/ 8 Oz Bag

Sale price

$5.29

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Organic Buckwheat & Brown Soba Rice Noodles]

Organic Buckwheat & Brown Soba Rice Noodles

2 reviews

Regular price

$5.29
/ 8 Oz Bag

Sale price

$5.29

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Organic Traditional Pho Rice Noodles]

Organic Traditional Pho Rice Noodles

12 reviews

Regular price

$5.29
/ 8 oz bag

Sale price

$5.29

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Regenerative Organic White Basmati Rice]

Regenerative Organic White Basmati Rice

7 reviews

Regular price

$9.99
/ 30 Oz Bag

Sale price

$9.99

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

[IMG: Organic White Jasmine Rice]

Organic White Jasmine Rice

11 reviews

Regular price

$8.99
/ 30 Oz Bag

Sale price

$8.99

Regular price

Unit price
/per

SHOP

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[H2] A LOVE STORY

In 1995we began importing black rice, calling it Forbidden Rice® after the Forbidden City, the Chinese Imperial palace. We wanted to share our love affair with heirloom rice with American consumers. If they loved the exciting colors and tastes of rice from around the world as much as we did, we could help preserve rice biodiversity, increase farm incomes, and improve sustainability. It worked! Today our supplier community brings you the highest quality organic rice and rice noodles, while promoting human and environmental welfare. Our journey of love continues...

[IMG: Farmers making a heart with their arms]

[H2] MISSION & VISION

MISSION LEAD THE WAY IN RICE FARMING PRACTICES that simultaneously
mitigate climate change, promote farmers’ resilience, and empower women. VISIONTo Change how rice is grown around the world.

WHY WE ARE COMMITTED

[H2] RICE IS LIFE

Rice sustains half the world’s population. Most is grown on small family farms. But producing it is hard on people and the environment.

[H3] Natural Resources

¼ to ⅓ of the planet’s annual renewable supply of fresh water is used for rice irrigation.

[H3] Climate Impact

Flooded rice fields are a major source of human-induced methane gas emission.

[H3] Labor Intensive

Hundreds of millions of women perform back-breaking tasks in unhealthy standing water.

[H3] Livelihoods

Most smallholder rice farmers struggle to make a living.

[IMG: rice bag graphic]

[H3] Sourcing

We source rice from smallholder farmers, giving them access to international markets.

[IMG: scale graphic]

[H3] Premium Pricing

We pay organic and Fair Trade premiums to increase incomes and attract the next generation.

[IMG: 3 people graphic]

[H3] Community Development

We help fund local improvement projects and job growth with Fair Trade social premiums.

[IMG: regenerative graphic]

[H3] Regenerative

We promote organic and regenerative More Crop Per Drop® to restore natural resources, slow climate change.

[IMG: lightbulb graphic]

[H3] Innovative Products

We strive to make healthy rice-based products more accessible and enable more farmers to benefit.

[IMG: megaphone graphic]

[H3] Advocacy

We advocate for a more just, equitable food system together with like-minded brands and partners.

Rice farming comparison

WHAT IS MORE CROP PER DROP®

That’s how we refer to the agroecological rice-growing method System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Farmers do not need special seeds or agrochemicals. They boost yields by changing how they grow rice to optimize the plants’ development. They transplant younger single seedlings at wide spacing in rows, not random clumps of older seedlings. This reduces transplant shock and competition among plants, and enables mechanical weeding. Soils are kept moist, not flooded, promoting soil health and root growth.

Conventional vs. More Crop Per Drop®

Conventional vs. More Crop Per Drop®

[H3] Seeds

[H3] Planting

[H3] Water

[H3] Weeds

[H3] Fertilizer

[H3] Women

[H3] Yield

Conventional

Any seed variety;27-45 lbs needed per acre

More Crop Per Drop®

Heirloom & local varieties;2-5 lbs needed per acre

BENEFIT:Up to 90% fewer seeds needed; cost savings; smaller nurseries to manage

Conventional

21-60 days old seedlings planted randomly in clumps of up to 5 seedlings

More Crop Per Drop®

8-15 days old seedlings planted in rows at wide spacing; 1 plant per hole

BENEFIT:Less transplant shock and competition among plants promotes growth.

Conventional

Continuously flooded fields; 360-600 gallons per 1lb rice

More Crop Per Drop®

Moist fields or alternate drying & flooding; ±180 gallons per 1lb rice

BENEFIT:25-50% less water used; 40% less methane emissions when fields are not continuously flooded.

Conventional

Manual removal or herbicides

More Crop Per Drop®

Rotary weeder removes weeds and aerates the soil

BENEFIT:Faster weeding. Farmers can weed in an upright posture.

Conventional

Inorganic fertilizer and chemical pesticides

More Crop Per Drop®

Organic fertilizer; promotes root growth & soil health

BENEFIT:Improves soil health for better plant health.

Conventional

Backbreaking repetitive tasks, mostly by women done in standing water

More Crop Per Drop®

Fewer lighter seedlings to plant, faster weeding, and no standing water

BENEFIT:Less work, less time working bent over, less exposure to health hazards.

Conventional

Fewer tillers, smaller roots from flooding. Plants fall over easily in storms.

MCPD

Improved soil health promotes deeper, larger roots and anchors plants.

BENEFIT:Up to 2-3X more rice harvested; increased income. Less pressure on natural habitats to raise yields.

[IMG: video-thumbnail]

[H2] OUR IMPACT

[H2] OUR IMPACT

58.3Mlbs of organic rice purchased

57.1KCO2e tons saved

6.1BGALLONS OF WATER SAVED

[H3] Check Out Our Reports

2025 Impact Report

[H5] 2025 Impact Report
Highlighting progress across climate, water, soil health, and farmer livelihoods—alongside a major evolution of our sourcing strategy to build a more resilient, transparent, and impact-driven supply chain.Download PDF here

Annual Benefit Corporation Report

[H5] FY2024 Annual Benefit Corp Report
Read about our transition in leadership and new investment partner.Download PDF here

Past Impact Reports

[H5] Past Impact Reports
2024 Impact Report Download PDF here
2023 Impact ReportDownload PDF here
2022 Impact ReportDownload PDF here

JEDI Commitment

JEDI CommitmentDownload PDF here

[H3] 1995-2000

[H3] 2001-2005

[H3] 2006-2010

[H3] 2011-2015

[H3] 2016-2020

[H3] 2021-2025

1995
First sale of Bhutanese Red Rice.
First sale and trademark of Forbidden Rice®, pioneers in pigmented rice.
1996
Introduce the first certified organic jasmine rice sold in US.
1997
First in-store demos.
1998
Forbidden Rice® wins a Specialty Foods sofi™ Award (the first of 16 sofi™ awards).
1999
Supply chain trip through Bhutan, Thailand, Laos and China.
2000
Launch of Kaipen (freshwater green algae) and Rice Flour (red, black and white rice blended with Kaipen).
Introduce Kalijira Rice, a “baby basmati” from Bangladesh.

2001
First trade show, Natural Products Expo East.
2002
First strategic plan.
2003
Union Bank and Costco provide credit to fuel growth.
2004
Launch products at Whole Foods Market.
Hire first salesperson.
Win 6 sofi™ awards.
2005
Introduced to System of Rice Intensification (SRI) by Cornell University.

2006
Visit Madagascar to meet SRI farmers and do field audits.
2007
Visit SRI farmers in Cambodia.
First investor pitch.
2008
Commit at Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting to creating 3 SRI supply chains.
Global recession hits, rice export bans implemented and we lose access to Kalijira Rice.
2009
Import 1 container each of SRI-grown rice from Cambodia, Indonesia and Madagascar.
2010
Brand refresh – brand SRI as More Crop Per Drop®.
Introduce retail bags of Madagascar Pink Rice, Mekong Flower Jasmine Rice and Volcano Rice (first rice ever to be certified Fair for Life).
Hire first full-time sales manager.
Move from home office to Richmond warehouse office.
Develop relationships with New Resource Bank, RootCapital and Grassroots Business Fund.
First Angel Investors.

2011
Good Morning America touts health benefits of black rice, showing Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice® bag.
2012
Receive More Crop Per Drop® (MCPD) registered trademark rights.
Become a B Corp.
2013
Begin innovating value-added rice-based products, starting with Organic Heat & Eat Rice Bowls.
2014
Introduce Rice Ramen Noodle Soup singles and Organic Rice Ramen 4 packs.
2015
Introduce Arare Rice Crackers.
Team continues to grow.

2016
Reincorporate as a Certified Benefit Corporation.
Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen go national in Costco.
Introduce Organic Dehraduni Basmati, the “Mother of all Basmati.”
Launch 10 new products to Whole Foods Market including Rice Delights.
2017
Launch Do The Rice Thing Campaign.
Introduce Organic Pad Thai Rice Noodles.
2018
Introduce Rice Ramen Instant Noodle Soup Cups.
Expand into new office space.
2019
Win both gold for Dehraduni Basmati Rice and silver for Forbidden Rice® Pad Thai in the sofi™ Pasta, Rice, Grain Category.
Formalize board with addition of Neil Blomquist.
Hire first C-level position, President/COO.
2020
Basmati Rice is the first Regenerative Organic Certified® (Silver) rice.
Celebrate 25 years of Doing the Rice Thing!

2021
Chronicle Books agrees to publish Lotus Foods' first cookbook - RICE IS LIFE launching September 2022.
WFM accepts our new Quick Cook Rice for a Spring 2022 national launch.
2022
Chronicle Books publishes Lotus Foods' first cookbook - RICE IS LIFE
2023
Andrew Burke is promoted to CEO. Co-Founders Caryl Levine and Ken Lee will remain in their board seats and as visionaries focused on expanding the mission to change the way rice is grown globally.
Basmati Rice achieves Regenerative Organic Certified® Gold from Silver, making Lotus Foods Basmati Rice the first and only ROC™ Gold rice.

[H3] Meet Our Farming Community

[H3] PraTithi Organic Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2019

[H4] location
Uttar Pradesh, India

[H4] Product
White & Brown Basmati Rice

[H4] about
PraTithi Organic Foods, a pioneer and leading champion of organic farming in India, partners with small and marginal farmers, preserving traditional knowledge and local crop varieties with eco-friendly techniques, like the System of Rice Intensification (More Crop Per Drop®) to produce the best yields and quality. Farmers producing heirloom Basmati rice for Lotus Foods qualified for Regenerative Organic Certified®/Gold.

[H3] Dalian HongRen Whole Grain Foodstuffs Co., Ltd.
Lotus Foods Partner Since 1995

[H4] location
Heilongjian province, China

[H4] Product
Organic Forbidden® Rice, Heirloom Forbidden® Rice, Organic Jade Pearl Rice™

[H4] about
One our first and longest suppliers, Dalian Hongren in China has been a partner with us for over twenty years. Both our black Heirloom Forbidden Rice® and black Organic Forbidden Rice® are grown on small family farms in the Heilongjiang region of China's far Northeast provinces – an area that has some of the most fertile and unpolluted soils in China and has become the ‘organic’ food basket for the country. They also supply us with our Organic Jade Pearl Rice™, a consumer favorite, due to its fresh green color and taste.

[H3] Foodtech Solutions (FTS) / Amnatcharoen Organic Agricultural Community Enterprise Network
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2017

[H4] location
Amantcharoen Province, Thailand

[H4] Product
Organic White & Brown Jasmine Rice

[H4] about
Together, FoodTech Solutions and Amnatcharoen Organic Agricultural Community Enterprise Network are addressing the power imbalance between large millers and small producers. They apply ecological principles to revive on-farm soil fertility and produce certified organic rice to boost net farm income and community resilience. Network members meet for two hours of training each month and to exchange best practices.The Homali Rice they produce is some of the best aromatic rice grown in Thailand.

[H3] Oasis / Surin Family Farms
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2019

[H4] location
Surin, Thailand

[H4] Product
Organic Red Rice

[H4] about
OASIS (Organic Agriculture Social Enterprise Innovators of Surin) is a FLO-certified Small Producer Organization with about 650 small-scale farmer-members in Surin, Thailand. Many use More Crop Per Drop® methods. Founded in 2018, OASIS enables small-scale farmers to access premium markets. It has grown over the past few years to market red and white jasmine rice in addition to diversification with herbs and vegetables. OASIS exports its rice through its sister company, Surin Family Farms.

[H3] Cambodian Organic Farm Enterprise (COFE) Co., Ltd.,
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2008

[H4] location
Takeo, Cambodia

[H4] Product
Organic White & Brown Jasmine Rice

[H4] about
COFE grew out of pioneering work by the Cambodian NGO CEDAC to improve farmers’ food security and health by showing farmers how to grow more rice without toxic agrochemicals using System of Rice Intensification (More Crop Per Drop®). When formerly food-deficit farmers began producing surplus rice CEDAC organized them into organic cooperatives to sell their traditional jasmine. Lotus Foods was COFE’s first international buyer and sources organic and fair trade jasmine rice from them to this day. Fair trade premiums have been invested by communities to dig wells and ponds, buy milling equipment and even build a community store and meeting center.

[H3] Bloom Agro
Lotus Foods Partner Since 2009

[H4] location
Central Java, Indonesia

[H4] Product
Organic Tricolor Blend Rice

[H4] about
Bloom Agro supplies a blend of traditional Indonesian whole grain red and brown rices that make our Tricolor Blend Rice. This rice is certified organic and was the first rice ever to qualify for Fair for Life, the most demanding fair trade certification that exists. Besides fair pricing, it encompasses many other social and environmental concerns, including water use and gender equity. Bloom Agro partners with a group of youthful, entrepreneurial famers in Central Java.

[H1] Recipes

View All

Rice

Ramen

Rice Noodles

Heat & Eat Rice Pouches

Ramen Soup Cups

Drinks & Desserts

[H2]
Peanut Miso Ramen Cabbage Cups

[H2]
Peanut Ginger Ramen Noodle Salad

[H2]
Grilled Cabbage Rolls with Rice

[H2]
Teriyaki Tofu Lettuce Wraps

[H2]
Jade Pearl Rice™ Salad

[H2]
Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Veggies & Tempeh

[H2]
Edamame Rice Ramen Noodle Salad

[H2]
Beef Taco Bowls

[H2]
Red Rice Taco Bowl

[H2]
Arroz Blanco Con Cilantro

[H2]
Arroz Con Leche

[H2]
Spicy Tofu Sushi Bake

[H2]
Spicy Ramen Noodle Salad with Almond Dressing

[H2]
One Pot Curry Rice & Veggies

[H2]
Instant Pot Fried Rice

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[H2] 2025 Impact Report

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