Harlan Dean Lundberg, the third of four brothers who built Lundberg Family Farms into a leading producer of organic rice and rice products, passed away Aug. 17 at his home in Richvale, Calif. He was 77 years old.
Born Sept. 20, 1933, to Albert and Frances Lundberg in Phelps County, Neb., he moved to Richvale at age four. After studying agronomy at California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and serving in the U.S. Army, he joined his brothers Eldon, Wendell and Homer in the family rice farming business. Over the next 50 years, they transformed their parents’ small rice farm into one of the largest producer of organic rice and rice products.
Harlan was particularly interested in developing new rice varieties in the company’s nursery,and over the years developed numerous specialty rice varieties including including Wehani, Black Bran, and Arborio Rice. He was instrumental in the development and launch of rice-based products bearing the Lundberg Family Farms brand name, including rice cakes.
Active in a variety of industry and community activities, Harlan served on numerous rice industry boards, dabbled in local politics—including an unsuccessful 1983 run for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. House of Representatives--and supported a wide variety of community and church-related programs and causes.
He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Carolyn; sons Mark, Bryce and Eric; brothers Wendell and Homer; and eight grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Evangelical Free Church in Oroville on Aug. 27 at 2 p.m.
Source: Lundberg Family Farms
