May 18, 2013
Wisconsin Indian tribes want to make sure wild rice is labeled as the real thing -- hand harvested in the traditional way from natural areas rather than cultivated or machine harvested.
The tribes support proposed legislation that requires wild rice to be properly labeled.
Representative Gary Sherman says cultivated rice from California is undercutting real wild rice from Indian Country. He wants to make sure labeling is clear, so people know what they're buying.
The real wild rice can cost four times as much as the hybrid rice.
Sherman represents part of northwestern Wisconsin and serves on the State Tribal Relations Committee.
