Genuine Minnesota Wild Rice — Export Range

From a quiet northern lake to your finest tables.

North Star sources genuine wild rice — Zizania palustris — from the cold, clear lakes of northern Minnesota. Hand-harvested by indigenous peoples for more than a thousand years, this grain reaches discerning retailers and hospitality groups in premium markets worldwide.

Request Samples Read the Story

North Star Reserve — lake-harvested Minnesota wild rice

Heritage Origin

Hand-harvested from lakes in tribal partnership regions of northern Minnesota. A grain unchanged for centuries, with a story buyers can stand behind.

Export-Ready Standards

Sourced through MDA-licensed Minnesota producers operating under FDA cGMP and FSMA preventive controls. Per-lot Certificates of Analysis and complete document packages with every shipment.

Built for Demanding Markets

Bilingual Arabic and English labeling for the Gulf. Halal certification through ANAB-accredited certifier. Designed for FIRS registration, Dubai Municipality clearance, and the documentation rigor that sophisticated importers worldwide require.

The Wild Rice Tradition

Genuine Minnesota wild rice grows wild in shallow freshwater lakes — never planted, never irrigated. Each autumn it is gathered by canoe, then parched over slow fires that develop the grain’s signature nutty depth and supple bite. This is not the paddy-cultivated rice sold under the same name elsewhere. It is the rice from which the category takes its identity.

The Range

Three grades, one standard.

North Star Reserve

Lake-Harvested

Long-grain, hand-harvested, hand-parched. Dark hull, deep nutty flavor. Premium hospitality grade.

Retail: 250g, 500g, 1 lb
Bulk: 25 lb, 50 lb cases
Private label available

North Star Select

Minnesota Paddy

Cultivated Minnesota wild rice. Consistent grain size, value foodservice grade.

Retail: 500g, 1 lb, 2 lb
Bulk: 25 lb, 50 lb cases
Foodservice 25 kg available

Heritage Blend

Custom Specification

Wild rice blended with long-grain brown rice or pearl barley to buyer specification.

Pack sizes per buyer spec
MOQ applies

At a Glance

Specifications.

Origin: Northern Minnesota, USA
Species: Zizania palustris
Sources: Tribal-region harvesters & MDA-licensed cultivators
Processing: FDA-registered Minnesota facilities
Per-lot testing: Certificate of Analysis with each lot
Shelf life: 24 months, ambient dry
HS code: 1008.90 (confirm per shipment)
Allergens: Naturally gluten-free

Compliance & Standards

Built to clear customs and conscience alike.

FDA Food Facility

Registration In Process

MDA Food Handler

Licensing In Process

Halal Certification

In Process · ANAB-Accredited

FSMA Preventive Controls

21 CFR Part 117

USDA APHIS Phytosanitary

Per Shipment

Certificate of Free Sale

Per Shipment

How We Work

Trade terms.

Sample Program

Following an introductory call to confirm fit, we send sample packs to qualified buyers at no charge. Samples ship by expedited courier with product specifications and origin documentation. Initial sample packs are 250g of lake-harvested grade.

ii.

Minimum Orders

MOQ is established by SKU and pack format. We accommodate LCL shipments to start, scaling to FCL as relationships and forecasts mature.

iii.

Incoterms & Logistics

Standard terms are FOB U.S. port or CIF destination port. We provide the full document package per shipment, including legalized commercial invoice and certificate of origin appropriate to the destination.

iv.

FIRS & Local Compliance

We coordinate on FIRS product registration and Dubai Municipality requirements. Bilingual artwork, COA, halal documentation, and nutritionals provided in accepted formats.

Private Label

We offer private-label packing for importers and hospitality groups seeking market exclusivity. Brand artwork, pack format, and language can be customized.

vi.

Pricing & Quotes

Pricing is set in direct dialogue and reflects volume, pack configuration, freight terms, and relationship duration. We are not the lowest-cost source.

A Note on Timing

North Star Wild Rice is in active build phase. Our compliance stack — MDA Food Handler License, FDA Food Facility Registration, halal certification through an ANAB-accredited certifier — is in process and expected to clear in the months ahead. We are building buyer relationships now so first commercial shipments depart against confirmed demand. Inquiries received today are reviewed personally and prioritized in the order they arrive.

Frequently Asked

Questions buyers ask before the call.

Are you currently shipping commercial orders?

Not yet. North Star is in active build phase. Our compliance stack is in process and we are accepting buyer inquiries to align first commercial shipments with confirmed demand. Buyers who engage now are first in line.

What is the status of your halal certification?

Halal certification is in process through an ANAB-accredited certifier. Wild rice is intrinsically halal — no animal products, no alcohol — and certification documents the compliance for Gulf and other Muslim-majority markets where buyers require it.

Are you a broker or a principal supplier?

Principal. We source directly from MDA-licensed Minnesota producers and tribal-region harvesters under our own supply agreements, repack and document for export, and contract directly with overseas buyers. We do not flip product between unrelated parties.

Can you accommodate private label or custom packaging?

Yes. Private-label programs are available for importers and hospitality groups seeking market exclusivity. Brand artwork, pack format, and language can be customized. MOQs and lead times depend on the program scope.

What is your minimum order quantity?

MOQs depend on SKU, pack format, and freight terms. We accommodate LCL (less-than-container-load) shipments to start, scaling to FCL (full container) as the relationship and forecast mature. Specifics are confirmed in direct dialogue.

What documentation do you provide with shipments?

The full export document package: commercial invoice (legalized at destination consulate where required), certificate of origin, MDA Certificate of Free Sale, USDA APHIS phytosanitary certificate, per-lot Certificate of Analysis, halal certificate (where applicable), packing list, and bill of lading. We coordinate with destination importers on FIRS registration and equivalent local requirements.

“The wild rice of the upper Great Lakes is the rice from which all others borrow their name — a grain shaped by water, wind, and a thousand autumns of careful hands.”

— On the Heritage of Manoomin

Let us send samples.

We work with importers, distributors, and hospitality groups in premium markets worldwide. Pricing, MOQ, and Incoterms are confirmed in direct dialogue. We respond within one business day to schedule a brief introductory call.