Market Access & Promotion
Rice is one of the world’s most widely consumed grains and the primary dietary staple for more than half the world’s population. American rice farmers grow 9 million tons of rice each year, just more than half of which is exported to more than 120 countries.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, and Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) help the rice industry open foreign markets and promote our products abroad, with a proven track record of success in more than 30 overseas markets. Learn more about our international market promotions below.
International Promotions
Recent News
USA Rice delegation
Mar 07, 2025
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA – A delegation of private businesses and cooperators, including USA Rice, participated in a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Trade Mission (ATM) this week, led by USDA acting Associate Administrator and Head of Delegation Mark Slupek. The mission, which focused on strengthening agricultural trade relations in Central America’s northern tier – Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador – highlighted the growing importance of the region for U.S. agricultural exports, particularly rice.
In attendance were USA Rice members John Philip Armstrong of Forbidden Farms, Micha Gairhan of TRC Delta, and Javier Molina of TRC, and Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice senior director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere. Grigsby coordinated a parallel agenda for her group that centered exclusively on rice, while also engaging in broader ATM activities aimed at expanding economic opportunities, supporting rural prosperity, and keeping American agricultural products globally competitive.
Guatemala, the largest economy and population center in Central America, continues to be a key market for U.S. agricultural products. In 2023, Guatemala imported $1.7 billion in U.S. agricultural goods, making it the top market in the region. Guatemala was the United State’s twelfth largest export destination for rice last year, bringing in more than $60 million worth of product.
The ATM featured a dynamic agenda designed to connect U.S. exporters with key buyers in the region, and included supermarket tours showcasing U.S. products on local shelves; a visit to San Martin Bakery, a popular franchise that sources U.S. ingredients for its baked goods; a promotional event at Francisco Morazan School to highlight U.S.-origin rice; and a roundtable discussion with the Guatemalan Chamber of Food and Beverages.
The mission also included tailored business-to-business meetings with importers and distributors from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, offering U.S. producers valuable networking opportunities and insights into local market dynamics.
Slupek conducted a roundtable meeting to discuss challenges and successes of USDA cooperators, and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) staff and regional experts led in-depth market briefings, covering the growing demand for U.S. agricultural products, along with the region's capabilities in logistics, distribution, processing, and cold chain management – key components for U.S. exporters looking to enter or expand in Central American markets.
“This mission provided a valuable opportunity for USA Rice to expand its reach in the growing Central American market,” said Grigsby. “As Guatemala continues to grow as a vital trade partner, the future for U.S. rice exports looks promising, particularly as the region benefits from deeper integration and tariff elimination through CAFTA-DR.”