Lotus Foods' Ken Lee Receives Leadership Award for Citizenship

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Jan 20, 2017, 06:00 ET

RICHMOND, Calif., Jan. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ken Lee, Co-Founder/Co-CEO of Lotus Foods, which specializes in organic and heirloom rice and rice products from around the world, will be presented with the Specialty Foods Association Leadership Award for Citizenship at a special awards ceremony, January 22, 2017, at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.

Under Ken Lee's leadership, Lotus Foods has established supply chains in four countries, with some of the most marginalized but innovative rice farmers practicing climate-smart growing techniques, while preserving the rich heritage of rice biodiversity. Ken's commitment lets us embrace both the benefits and the responsibilities of being global citizens.

The Specialty Food Association is the primary professional association that fosters commerce and interest in the specialty food industry, with more than 3,000 member companies from importers, distributors, brokers, and retailers to restaurateurs and other specialty food businesses. Each year the Association confers three Leadership Awards to honor influential and innovative individuals who are transforming the way the specialty food industry does business by creating social, economic and environmental impact.

The three awards are for Citizenship, Business Leadership, and Vision. Criteria for candidates for the Leadership Award for Citizenship include improving the lives of people and communities in areas such as the environment, sustainability, hunger relief, and literacy. Ken has demonstrated a relentless commitment to these values. "I am so gratified that my colleagues recognize and support what my partner Caryl and I are trying to achieve," Ken commented. "That's the only way that change will happen. And the change we aspire to is nothing less than transforming how the world grows rice."

The food industry must make drastic emissions cuts in the supply chains of the world's top food commodities a new Oxfam report warns. Production of rice, soybean, maize, palm oil and wheat is warming the planet. Rice is the main culprit because of methane emitted by flooded paddies. Since 2008 already, Ken has been developing supply chains with farmers practicing the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a solution Oxfam says, that can dramatically cut emissions, reduce water scarcity, and benefit small-scale producers. In 2015, Ken's purchase of rice from SRI farmers in four countries resulted in a savings of 500+ million gallons of water. Lotus Foods is the first and only US company to invest in market incentives for these pioneering farmers, working hard to help them achieve organic and fair trade certifications that can at times triple family incomes. This enables consumers to exercise global citizenship as well.

About Lotus Foods
Established in 1995, Lotus Foods' mission is to partner in fair trade with small family farmers around the world who are growing rice more sustainably and preserving rice biodiversity. The company's intent and vision is not only to help rice farmers earn a living wage but to bring healthier rice choices to consumers.

SOURCE Lotus Foods