Global Wild Rice Products Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Product Type (Raw Wild Rice, Processed Wild Rice, Wild Rice Blends), By Application (Retail/Consumer Products, Foodservice, Industrial/Ingredient Use), By Distribution Channel (Online Retail, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Foodservice Distributors), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

The wild rice products market is projected to grow considerably during the forecast period.

Rice has been an essential grain since ancient times. It has been deemed essential due to its nutritional value and affordability is easy. Wild rice is not a type of rice but a type of aquatic plant that the seeds are harvested from and the physical character consists of long grain size with a more pronounced earthy and nutty flavour with a firm texture. The production methods are similar to that of white and brown rice but require more cooking time. Wild rice is commonly used with soups, casseroles and rice pilafs.

Introduction:

Wild rice, also known as manoomin, is a type of aquatic grass from which the seeds are harvested and mainly used as a food source. True wild rice, also known as lake rice, takes around a year to be harvested, until late August or early September, and is best planted in shallow waters (1-3 feet deep) with areas containing soft, organic bottoms. Wild Rice provides a variety of nutrients, a few of which are Lipids, Protein, Starch, Minerals, Vitamins, Sterols, Low molecular weight phenolic compounds, phytic acid, and dietary fibres. Wild rice has many applications in the food and beverage industry. A Few products in which wild rice is used are bread, stuffings, soup, wild rice bratwurst, wild rice sausages and wild rice meatballs.

Drivers:

• Government initiatives boost growth in the market: The rice commodity is considered one of the most important cereal crops worldwide. The majority of the farmers cultivate rice as a food source and a cash crop. Since rice can only be grown in certain weather conditions and geographical advantage is required, some countries aren’t able to cultivate wild rice. For instance, Tanzania’s most essential crops are maize and rice and due to new competition and the discovery of new perennial wild species have been hindering the growth in southern Tanzania. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Department for International Development in the United Kingdom have developed technologies and promotional material to optimize the use of herbicides and fertilizers to control the annual wild rice and perennial rice production in Tanzania.
• Increasing traction for plant-based foods: Plant-based foods have gained increasing popularity for their health-conscious people’s approach to food and diet. As per the Plant-Based Foods Association, they had estimated a 60% household penetration rate with an 80% repetition rate on plant-based foods.  As plant-based foods gain traction, the demand for plant-based protein is also expected to increase. Since wild rice naturally has several nutritional proteins, the wild rice products market is expected to grow at a steady pace during the forecasted years.

Key Players:

• Minnesota Wild Rice: An American company that is known for its premium wild rice production and supply with products ranging from bread, stuffing, and soup.
• SunWest Foods: An American company known for its diversified rice, wild rice and nut production and processing.
• Amira Nature Foods: A company headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, that is famous for the distribution of basmati rice and related food products.

Regional Analysis:

North America is expected to witness the most growth in the wild rice products market during the forecasted period 2024-2029. North America holds the leading position in the market for the production of wild rice, mainly cultivated in the United States, with Minnesota and California producing the majority of the wild rice in the country. It had been considered a sacred staple crop of Native American tribes for many generations such as the Chippewa. The market is expected to grow with the increasing production and supply of wild rice products in the United States.

Market Developments:

• November 2022: Bibigo, a leading food company in Korea, announced their convenience food product, Rice Medley, which is a multigrain rice bowl that will be sold to the public and is easily microwavable for consumption. These products include wild rice, brown rice and red rice with instructions to be followed for microwaving.

Segmentation:

• By Product Type:
  • Raw Wild Rice
  • Processed Wild Rice
  • Wild Rice Blends
• By Application:
  • Retail/Consumer Products
  • Foodservice
  • Industrial/Ingredient Use
• By Distribution Channel:
  • Online Retail
  • Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
  • Specialty Stores
  • Foodservice Distributors
• By Geography:
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Others