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Please direct individual enquiries about the history of Migros to the Historical Company Archives of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives.
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Migros owns the largest rice-processing plant in Switzerland, Riseria Taverne, and refines up to 3.5 tons of rice per hour. A small portion of it comes from environmentally-friendly dry farming on the Maggia Delta.
A clear stream operates the idyllically situated corn mill at Taverne when, in 1905, the Curti family from Varese buy it and turn it into the first rice mill in Ticino. In 1957, Migros purchases the rice mill and today up to 3.5 tonnes of rice are refined per hour.
Almost two-thirds of the rice processed originates from Italy, while the remainder comes from India and Thailand. A small amount of rice is also cultivated in Switzerland on the sandy alluvial land of the Maggia, between Locarno and Ascona. Here, on the agricultural estate of the Terreni alla Maggia SA, an excellent risotto rice called Loto, is grown, 470 tonnes of which is processed in the Riseria each year.
What is special about this rice is that it has about 40 percent less impact on the environment than other types of rice. This is due not only to the packaging and the distribution by rail, but particularly to the method of cultivation. In contrast to other regions, in Ticino dry land is cultivated. In this way, water is saved and less methane is released into the atmosphere.