The Cultural and Economic Importance of Natural Wild Rice and the Business Plan to Introduce its Nutritional Benefits to the Health Conscious Target Market

This project examined the importance of wild rice to the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) people, specifically the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and the benefits of wild rice as a commodity crop sold as a super food to the emerging health conscious market. The paper is a supplement to the Final Applied Project Capstone delivered through a business plan for a startup private business venture. Based on current sales of wild rice through tribal outlets, the business plan anticipates sales exceeding historical trends. Marketing aspects of the plan anticipate the use of advantages of natural wild rice in comparison to cultivated wild rice as competitive edge. The plan emphasizes education and information deliveries to consumers so they become more knowledgeable about wild rice.