From Delta Fields to Family Tables: The Story Behind Cache River Rice 🌾
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At Cache River Rice, we believe that great food starts with great land — and great people.
Our story begins in the heart of the Arkansas Delta, where rich soils, pure water, and deep family traditions come together to grow something special: real, honest rice.
A Tradition Rooted in Delta Soil
At Cache River Rice, farming isn’t just what we do — it’s who we are.
For generations, families have worked this land with care, grit, and faith. Through early mornings, changing seasons, and countless harvests, we've carried forward a simple promise:
👉 Grow food we’re proud to feed our own families.
👉 Grow food we’re proud to share with yours.
Cache River Rice was born out of that promise.
We didn’t set out to create just another bag of rice.
We set out to bring back what’s been lost:
Real fields.
Real seasons.
Real food.
Humble Beginnings and the McKnight Family Legacy
Our Ar-Mati rice — now known as Cache River Rice — has been carefully grown and developed since 1985.
Originally founded by the McKnight Milling Company, headed by Mr. DeLoss McKnight and his family, the rice was farmed on their own McKnight family farm. Their dedication to quality and stewardship set the foundation for what would later become one of the South’s finest gourmet rices.
In 2007, the Hess family, bringing with them four generations of rice farming expertise, acquired the company and carried the tradition forward.
A New Era: The Cartillar Family Vision
In 2020, Jayme Cartillar, a farmer and entrepreneur from Wynne, Arkansas, acquired Cache River Rice. Jayme, together with his father Rusty Cartillar — a longtime agricultural pilot — brought new energy, purpose, and vision to the company.
Long before the acquisition, Jayme believed in the superior quality of the rice — not just its savory scent and flavor but its incredible health benefits too.
Today, under Jayme's leadership, Cache River Rice has:
Overhauled facilities for better quality control
Expanded production to meet growing demand
Developed a new logistical infrastructure to reach customers across the South and beyond
What Makes Cache River Rice So Special?
Cache River Popcorn Rice stands apart from anything else you'll find.
🌾 Grown from a unique heritage: Our gourmet popcorn rice traces its roots to breeders at Louisiana State University's Rice Experiment Station in Crowley, Louisiana.
🌾 A true blend of tradition and innovation: Developed by crossing Basmati rice from the Punjab province of India with American varieties, creating a rice that's truly one of a kind.
🌾 Flavor and health benefits: With a savory, buttery aroma and slow-release carbohydrates, Cache River Rice helps maintain blood sugar levels — making it diabetic-friendly and a clean, sustainable energy source.
When you cook Cache River Popcorn Rice, you’ll experience the unmistakable scent of hot buttered popcorn — a flavor that connects generations and brings everyone back to the table.
A New Generation Carrying the Torch
Today, Cache River Rice is led by farmers who blend tradition with purpose. We grow a unique American twist on Basmati rice — long-grain, naturally aromatic, buttery in scent and flavor — using non-GMO seeds and traditional growing methods.
No shortcuts.
No additives.
No compromises.
Our rice isn’t factory-made — it’s soil-made.
Why We Farm the Old-Fashioned Way
In a world chasing speed, we choose patience.
In a world chasing shortcuts, we choose stewardship.
At Cache River Rice:
We farm with respect for the land.
We use clean Delta water and time-tested methods.
We believe a simple ingredient list (just one: rice) is the best ingredient list of all.
Our fields aren't managed by machines and algorithms — they’re tended by hands that know this soil by heart.
The Future of Cache River Rice
As the world moves faster, we move more intentionally.
Our vision isn’t just local — it's Southern, it's national — it's a new standard for clean eating and honest food traditions.
Whether you’re cooking gumbo in Louisiana, rice bowls in Texas, or clean family meals in the Carolinas —
Cache River Rice brings a taste of the Delta’s richness straight to your table.
Because clean eating should feel good.
Because real food should taste unforgettable.
Because tradition still matters.
Join Our Family Table
When you choose Cache River Rice, you’re not just buying a product — you’re joining a story that stretches across fields, families, and generations.
Taste the difference.
Feel the tradition.
Feed your family the way nature — and real farmers — intended.
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