: About Us

“Deliver only what we can, with confidence.”
Cultivators and wholesalers involved in rice, fruit, and vegetable manufacturing in the Echigo Plain collaborate in the unique manufacture of rice.

わたしたちのこだわりの米づくり。そのはじまりは、明治23年にさかのぼります。
株式会社白熊の創業者・白野熊吉は、地元の生産者からお米を集めながら、
肥料や農薬に関する相談を受けていました。
越後平野の真ん中に位置するこの辺りは、新潟県有数のお米の産地というだけでなく、
香りと甘みのつよい梨・桃・ぶどうなどに果物や、トマト・なす・ねぎなどの野菜も多くとれる土地柄。
「果物や野菜のおいしさを、米づくりに応用したい」。
そんな情熱をもった生産者と米問屋が一体となり、試行錯誤の末できたのが「しろくまのお米」です。

The Origins of “Shirokuma Rice” Our select methods of rice cultivation trace their origins to 1890.
Shirokuma Co., Ltd. founder Kumakichi Shirono consulted with local producers about fertilizers and pesticides as he collected rice.
Situated in the center of the Echigo Plain, the area was not only one of Niigata Prefecture’s prominent rice production areas. The land was also suited for bountiful harvests of fragrant and sweet pears, peaches, grapes, and other fruits, as well as vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, and onions.
“I want to apply the superior taste of our fruits and vegetables to rice cultivation.” Cultivators with this kind of passion have joined with wholesalers, and as a result of trial and error have created “ Shirokuma Rice.”

「しろくまのお米」は、「新潟しろくま会　特別栽培米研究会」によってつくられています。
会のメンバーは、三条市・燕市・加茂市・田上町・新潟市の
５市町村でお米・果物・野菜をつくり、株式会社白熊に出荷している生産者たち。
栽培技術の向上から管理・流通方法にいたるまで、
「あんぜん、あんしん、おいしい」お米の生まれ方を、さまざまな角度から研究し、
米づくりに活かしています。

Made by the “Niigata Shirokuma Association”
“Shirokuma Rice” is cultivated by the “Special Rice Cultivation Research Group. , Niigata Shirokuma Association.”
Association members include cultivators in the five municipalities of Sanjo City, Tsubame City, Kamo City, Tagami-machi, and Niigata City who cultivate rice, fruit, and vegetables, shipping the products to Shirokuma Co., Ltd..
The Association researches how to create rice that is “safe”, that “reassures”, and that has “superior flavor.” Their research covers a wide variety of aspects ranging from the improvement of cultivation technologies to management and distribution methods. This research is then utilized in rice cultivation.

その他、多くの生産者と契約し、集荷しています。

Cultivator Introduction

Every bit of care and concern I extend is linked to the “safety and superior flavor” of my rice.
Niigata Shirokuma Association Member: Kiyoitsu Chino

「小さい子からお年寄りまで直接口にするものだから、手間ひまかけるのは当たり前」。
わたしだけでなく、会に所属しているメンバーはみんな、そんな思いで米づくりをしています。
低農薬で育てるので稲の病害虫には人一倍注意をはらわなくてはいけませんが、
その気遣い一つひとつが「あんぜん」や「おいしさ」につながっていると思えば、
いくらでもがんばれる。これからも良質なお米を食卓に届けていきたいですね。

“Everyone, from children to the elderly eats this, so it is only natural that one would take the time to do it right.” I’m not the only person that thinks this way. All the members of the association cultivate their rice with the same line of thinking. As we cultivate our rice with low levels of pesticides, we have to be more cautious about agricultural pests. However, when I consider the fact that this care and concern is linked to “safety and superior flavor,” I know I can keep doing my best. I hope to continue to provide dinner tables with good quality rice.