California leads the nation in the production of medium grain rice with 4.2 billion pounds. California’s total rice production of 4.4 billion pounds is second to Arkansas’ total rice production.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) oversees several boards and commissions related to rice in California, including:
• The California Rice Commission supports the state's 2,500 rice growers and handlers. The commission is funded by the industry and is overseen by the CDFA.
• The California Rice Research Board helps ensure the continued success of the California rice industry by funding, evaluating, and overseeing research projects and programs.
• The California Wild Rice Advisory Board represents wild rice producers and handlers.