When talking about rice, the focus is often on the finished product: the dish served at the table, the preferred variety, the ideal texture. But behind every grain there is a long journey made up of expertise, passion, and crucial decisions. With the new series “Inside the Mundi Riso Supply Chain,” we open an internal view of the company to explain, step by step, what it really means to produce high-quality rice.
Among the various stages of work, one of the most strategic is undoubtedly the moment of purchasing raw rice. It is here that the daily work of a rice company like Mundi Riso begins, with a choice that influences quality, performance, and final customer satisfaction.
The selection of the rice to be purchased represents a decisive moment for the entire production chain. It is at this stage that the foundations are laid for a finished product that meets expectations, both in terms of quality and performance. A wrong choice, in fact, could compromise the entire subsequent process: from processing to packaging.
For this reason, purchasing is never a simple commercial act, but a technical and strategic activity that requires in-depth knowledge of the market, varieties, customer needs, and the agronomic characteristics of different rice batches.
Each selected lot is evaluated based on precise parameters: the variety, uniformity, purity, grain quality, the level of broken grains and impurities, moisture content, and naturally compliance with the standards required for the specific intended use. A complex choice that combines experience, vision, and technical expertise.
For us, choosing the right rice begins in a symbolic place: Borsa Merci (Commodity Exchange) in Vercelli. Not just a simple trading venue, but a historical and strategic crossroads for the entire Italian rice sector.
Vercelli, in the heart of the Po Valley, is considered the “capital of rice” par excellence. Here, some of the finest varieties are cultivated, thanks to a favorable climate, an extensive irrigation network—with the fundamental contribution of the Cavour Canal—and a centuries-old agricultural tradition. The province alone produces a significant share of Italian rice, which in turn accounts for more than 50% of European production.
The Vercelli Commodity Exchange is the weekly point of reference for those who buy and sell raw rice. It is here that prices are formed, supply and demand meet, and agreements are made. Every week, operators and rice mills engage with brokers, assessing market trends and seeking the best available batches in terms of quality and value.
In this context, an expert eye makes the difference: recognizing the characteristics of a batch, understanding crop evolution, evaluating the impact of seasonal weather conditions or agricultural policies on the market are all essential skills.
The purchase of raw rice is guided by a series of well-defined criteria. First and foremost, the variety: each customer, each market, and each application requires a different type. Carnaroli, Arborio, Baldo, Ribe, S. Andrea, Roma, Vialone Nano, and many other varieties are selected based on their final destination and technical specifications.
Then the physical quality of the product comes into play: grain length and shape, presence of broken grains, color, impurities, moisture content, and cooking performance. All these elements are analyzed before purchase contracts are finalized.
In addition, rice companies like Mundi Riso plan purchases based on seasonality, market forecasts, and harvest trends. Strategies are therefore developed in order to combine just-in-time supply logic with more conservative approaches, with targeted storage to ensure production continuity.
An important part of the process is also the development of trust-based relationships with suppliers: collaborating with reliable farms that guarantee consistent quality and traceability is essential to maintaining high standards throughout the entire supply chain.
In this complex and competitive scenario, Mundi Riso stands out for its attentive, technical, and customer-oriented approach. Each purchase is the result of a thorough evaluation, carried out with the goal of creating a “tailor-made” product for every need.
Thanks to a specialized team and a well-established supplier network, Mundi Riso selects batches of raw rice capable of ensuring high processing performance, uniformity, and reliable final results. Choosing the correct rice is not just the initial step of the supply chain: it is the first promise of quality made to the customer.