Gạo ngươì Việt trồng ở Mỹ

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California-grown rice finds favor within Asian community


http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=8573145


LITTLE SAIGON, WESTMINSTER, Calif. (KABC) -- An Orange County entrepreneur is doing something that many people once thought was not possible: He's successfully selling American-grown rice to the Asian community in Southern California. The new brand of rice is rising in popularity.

Rice is a staple in Asian countries: "For breakfast for lunch and for dinner," said Peter Quoi Pham, owner of Panda Rice.

But most Asian rice is grown overseas. A Vietnamese-American man is now trying to change that. Peter Quoi Pham met a Northern California rice-grower while on a cruise and decided to go into business with him.

"First, we don't know how the customers would react to the American rice because all these years they've been eating jasmine rice," said Pham.

Pham calls the product "Panda Rice." He says with lower sugar content and "Grade A" approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the domestic rice is healthier. And with sky-high fuel prices, the cost is lower than imported rice.

"It comes at a time when our economy is down, and we should each do our part to boost it," said Panda Rice customer Anh Do.

Whether it's the marketing, the taste, or the support of the American economy, it is a hit with customers, growing wildly in markets around the United States. Pham says he's sold 1,100 bags in two weeks.

"I think it's pretty neat to have a Vietnamese-American making rice, a traditional Asian product that's now popular worldwide right here," said Anh Do.

In just three months, the rice has become so popular in communities throughout the United States, Pham is now planning to export it to Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East.

"I'm hoping that I'm getting more support from not only the Vietnamese community but all the ethnic groups as well," said Pham.

And it's all starting right here in Southern California.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?se...nty&id=8573144

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Ngành nông nghiệp trồng gạo California :

Bên Mỹ có nhiêù cơ hội đâù tư và làm ăn . Làm nông nghiệp thì có máy cày, máy gặt, ..., không phải con trâu đi trươc´, cái cày đi sau, thậm chí có khi con ngươì lội nươc´ thê´trâu kéo cày . Vì có nhiêù dụng cụ và phương tiện kỹ thuật, cho nên cũng đở .

Field Preparation
In March, farmers begin to prepare their fields for planting. First, fields are carefully leveled with precision, laser-guided grading equipment. Flat fields allow rice farmers to conserve water. Fertilizer is then added, and shallow furrows are rolled into the field. By April, the fields are ready to be planted.


Tractor preparing field

Flooding and Seeding

Water is run into the fields to a depth of only 5 inches. Consistent water depth has been shown to improve the rice plants' ability to compete against weeds for nutrients and sunlight, reducing the need for herbicides. Rice seed is then soaked and loaded into planes.

Flying at 100 mph, planes plant the fields from the air. The heavy seeds sink into the furrows and begin to grow.


Maturation of Rice

The rice seedlings are now ready to begin their four to five-month journey to maturity. Early in the growing cycle, one to two applications of herbicides are applied to control weeds. If necessary, farmers may also treat the fields for the rice water weevil and other insects. Early application of just a few crop protection materials ensures pure rice at harvest.

The rice grows rapidly, ultimately reaching a height of 3 feet. During this time, farmers are careful to maintain a consistent water depth of the same 5 inches. By late summer, the grain begins to appear in long panicles on the top of the plant. By September, the grain heads are mature and ready to be harvested. On average, each acre will yield over 8,000 pounds of rice!



Harvest

Before rice harvest can begin, the fields must be drained. Once the fields are dry, state-of-the-art harvesters enter the fields to collect the perfectly ripe grain. Because quality is so important, these harvesters are designed to both gently and rapidly bring the grain in from the fields. Specialized tractors called bankout wagons come alongside, receiving the rice and delivering it to waiting trailers so the harvesters can continue without having to stop to unload.



http://www.calrice.org/Environment/How+Rice+Grows.htm