HUDSON, WIS. — Ciranda, Inc., a global supplier of certified organic, non-G.M.O. and fair-trade ingredients, has partnered with Matco Foods Ltd., a rice exporter in Pakistan, to produce two types of sweeteners: organic brown rice syrup and organic clarified brown rice syrup.

The syrups are certified organic, kosher and Non-GMO Project verified. Ciranda will distribute them in the U.S. market beginning Q3 2018 and plans to scale-up during the next three years. The rice syrups expand Ciranda’s current sweetener portfolio, which includes organic tapioca glucose and fructose syrups, organic honey, organic agave syrup and inulin, as well as organic crystalline grape sugars.

Matco has more than 50 years of experience in the rice industry and recently added a syrup processing facility for further advancement. A member of the Sustainable Rice Platform, the company initiated the Kisan Dost (Farmer’s Friend) Program to create a solution for rice growers struggling to market products without the use of a marketing consultant, who might use unfair market pricing and commission a portion of the profit.

The Farmer’s Friend program seeks to provide direct procurement and opportunities for farmers to improve yield with no-cost services, which include laser land leveling, soil and water testing, crop monitoring, fair pricing and certified seeds. More than 500 farmers have been affected by the program. 

“We have a long history of ethical sourcing,” said Steve Hyde, director of business development, Ciranda. “We partner with suppliers who share our values for sustainability and fair-trade practices, and Matco is certainly in alignment. With this new partnership we are able to offer our clients a high-quality source of glucose, while at the same time contributing to the development of rice growers in the rice belt of Pakistan.”