Homer Lundberg, the youngest of the four Lundberg brothers who were the first producers to label their rice as “organic” in 1969, has passed away at age 89.
Known for the conservation ethic developed by their parents, who escaped the Dust Bowl by moving to Northern California in 1937, the Lundberg family began farming rice using sustainable methods and built an organic rice empire that is one of the most recognizable organic brands today.
Homer was involved with CCOF and the modern organic movement from the late 1960s, when a resurging natural foods movement created demand for organic brown rice from consumers, such as followers of the macrobiotic diet and the alternative “hippy” culture. In 1972, Homer participated in the First National Conference on Organic Farming and Compost in San Francisco, sponsored by the Rodale Press to initiate organic certification in California. Homer spoke on the program with Paul Hawken, then with Erewhon Trading Company. An article on the conference in the August 1972 issue of Organic Farming and Gardening magazine notes that the brown rice served was grown by the Lundberg brothers of Wehah Farms.
By 1973, Homer was Northern Regional Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of CCOF. Wehah Farms—which became Lundberg Family Farms, run by Homer Lundberg—was included in the map and listing of organic farms in CCOF’s first newsletter, published in 1974.
In addition to continually innovating ecologically beneficial methods of growing rice with his brothers, Homer was actively involved with securing and protecting water for agriculture in Northern California. He was one of the founding farmers of the Western Canal Water District and served on its board for 22 years. He also served on the boards of numerous other water-related agencies and local community organizations.
Homer was recognized for his conservation efforts with many awards, including the Northern California Water Association’s Will S. Green Award and the California Rice Industry Award.
More information about Homer’s remarkable life is available in his obituary.
