Organic Greens
For James Nisly, growing organic vegetables is about fulfilling a vision of producing healthy food for a healthy community and building well balanced soil for sustainable food production.
Kalona, IA
Cahokia Rice
Type: Farm
Produces: Rice
Location: McClure, IL
Miles from Coop: 360
The Smart Choice Rice
Cahokia rice has 53% more protein per serving than conventional rice and a low glycemic index of 41 (the lowest GI ever reported in a commercial rice), making this rice an excellent heart-healthy and diabetic-friendly choice!
It is non-GMO and heavy metal free and regularly tested to ensure levels remain below detectable limits, and grown in nearby Illinois on a family farm dedicated to protecting the environment for generations to come.
Cahokia Rice can be found on New Pioneer Co-op shelves both in packages and in our bulk sections!
Generational Farming
For four generations, farmer Blake Gerard and his family have lovingly cultivated a pristine corner of the Mississippi River bottoms region in Southern Illinois. As a Food Alliance Certified sustainable farm, the Gerard family believes in creating food systems that not only feed people today but protect and nurture our environment for the future.
Commitment to Stewardship
Cahokia Rice is named in honor of the Cahokia people - the first sustainable farmers of the land. Blake's business represents a return to these same sustainable practices. Through regenerative farming methods, they cultivate more than just rice - they nurture the land itself.
By creating wetland habitats, they enhance biodiversity, providing a sanctuary for hundreds of migratory birds and other species. These waterfowl play an integral role in the farming process, naturally tilling the soil, fertilizing the fields, and even assisting with weed control. This harmonious relationship supports the environment and helps grow rice in the most sustainable way possible.
The fields are not just farmland - they are vibrant ecosystems teeming with life.
These regenerative methods create nutrient-dense soil, reduce erosion, and aid in soil preservation, ensuring their fields remain fertile for generations to come.
Other Local Producers
Be sure to check out these others great local producers!
LIFE
Levi's Indigenous Fruit Enterprise is known for their aronia berries, which are native to Iowa, through sustainable farming practices that work with nature.
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Maestro Empanadas
When Christian Bejarano and Marta Hamity moved to Iowa from Argentina, they had trouble finding their favorite food: the empanada. They got cooking and quickly earned a cult following.
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Kerns Homegrown
Our local source for non-GMO sweet corn! In 1999, at the age of 15, Blake Kerns rented two acres of abandoned crop land, borrowed a planter, and seeded sweet corn. Twenty years later he's still planting, picking, and delivering fresh picked homegrown produce.
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Wilson's Orchard
They have a robust pick-your-own apple business at the farm, where they also make apple cider, apple turnovers, and apple cider donuts, and they grow pumpkins. What more could you ask for?
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Ansel's Awesome Sauce
Ansel’s Awesome Hot Sauce, founded by Ansel Cummings in Riverside, IA, creates a variety of tasty hot sauces that prioritize flavor, heat levels, local producers, and exceptional quality and practices.
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Thousand Hills Cattle Co.
Thousand Hills sources beef from small Midwestern independent family farms that must meet the most stringent requirements around.
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Hue Hill
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