• AR rice farmer Joe Mencer shakes hands and gives plaque to MO rice farmer Blake Gerard Changing of the Guard at USA Rice Annual Business Meeting

    Jul 12, 2017

    All four USA Rice member organizations announced their newly-elected officers during annual business meetings here this week. Full story
  • DP.w-Instagram-Influencers,-GlutenFree-FollowMe-170710 USA Rice Instagram Campaign Generates 6.3M Impressions

    Jul 11, 2017

    As readers may recall, back in May, USA Rice teamed up with 14 Instagram influencers known for their work in the gluten-free and parenting/lifestyle sphere to bring attention to U.S.-grown rice as the go-to grain for gluten-free diets. This strategy used visual storytelling via Instagram to raise awareness during May’s Celiac Awareness Month and the impressive power of exponential message growth was on display. Full story
  • DP.w-K-12-Posters-170630 USA Rice Livens Up the Lunch Line

    Jul 10, 2017

    To get young minds headed in the rice direction, USA Rice created four eye-catching posters presenting nutrition and farm facts that are perfect for decorating the walls of school cafeterias around the country. The four posters will be unveiled at the School Nutrition Association (SNA) Conference in Atlanta this week, and distributed just in time for lunchrooms everywhere to start sprucing up before school starts. Full story
  • IP.w-Cooking-for-a-Crowd-at-Restaurant-Expo-in-Mexico-170707 Cooking for a Crowd at Restaurant Expo in Mexico

    Jul 07, 2017

    Last week, USA Rice participated in the 17th annual Expo Restaurantes, the foremost trade show for the restaurant and food service industry in Mexico that attracted more than 17,000 visitors from the surrounding metropolitan area. Full story
  • GA.w-EPA-Tour-in-LA-170706 EPA Staff Experiences Rice Country Firsthand

    Jul 06, 2017

    Last week USA Rice and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA) hosted six staff members from across the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs to experience rice growing and milling firsthand here in Louisiana. Full story
  • IP.w-USA-Rice-in-Turkey,-Checking-on-Rice-Varieties-170705 Excellent Prospects for U.S. Medium Grain, Wild Rice in Turkey Despite Market Challenges

    Jul 05, 2017

    USA Rice was in Turkey last week and met with millers, traders, packers, and food service distributors to assess market prospects for U.S. medium grain rice and to discuss possible promotional activities for U.S. wild rice, a product gaining increasing popularity in the Turkish market. Full story
  • Betsy Ward, Michael Klein & Kevin Berken at LA Field Day USA Rice Attends Louisiana Field Days and Meetings

    Jul 03, 2017

    USA Rice staff and members attended field day events in Louisiana, including Research and Promotion Board meetings and member visits. Full story
  • Aerial-view-of-2017 AR-flood 2017 Rice Area Numbers Down Almost 20 Percent from 2016, Harvested Area in Arkansas Takes a Hit

    Jun 30, 2017

    In the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) first survey-based estimate of grain acreage for the 2017 crop, all rice planted acres is set at 2.56 million, 19 percent less than the 2016 figure, and two percent less than reported in the March Prospective Plantings. Full story
  • USA Rice Meets with China’s Largest Rice Importer at HOFEX 2017

    Jun 29, 2017

    As USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue makes a high profile trip to China this week heralding resumption of U.S. beef exports there, USA Rice continues to strengthen trade ties in the region by participating in events like HOFEX, Asia’s leading food and hospitality tradeshow. At the show in May, USA Rice met with China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), a state-owned enterprise that is the largest food company in China, and consequently the largest importer of rice. Full story
  • IP.w-Venezuela-A-Country-in-Chaos-170628 Venezuela – A Country in Chaos

    Jun 28, 2017

    CARACAS, VENEZUELA -- Venezuela, one of the world’s most oil-rich countries has become one of the poorest and most dysfunctional over the last few years. It is a nation in crisis. Over 90 percent of their export earnings are derived from petrochemicals, the price of which has plummeted over the last several years. The low price of oil brings into question how much longer the Petrocaribe Agreement, an oil alliance between Venezuela and several Caribbean states, can last and with it, Venezuela’s influence in the Caribbean and Latin America. Full story
  • GA.w-It's-time-to-ditch-the-rule-170628 EPA to Propose Repeal of WOTUS

    Jun 28, 2017

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced yesterday that they plan to rescind the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule of 2015 and temporarily revert back to the rule in place prior to 2015. Full story
  • Group shot of Leadership Class & star of TV show Swamp-People Rice Foundation Accepting Applications for 2018 Rice Leadership Development Program

    Jun 28, 2017

    The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2018 Rice Leadership Development Program. Rice producers or industry-related professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 are eligible to apply for the program. The application deadline is October 7. Full story
  • Trend Spotting – Choose Rice

    Jun 26, 2017

    Who doesn’t love to be first with The Next Big Thing, especially if you’re in business and being at the front end of a trend translates into profit? The key is knowing what’s going to appeal to consumers even before they do and that means being attuned to trends in their behavior. Full story
  • USA Rice and Jewel-Osco ‘Build a Better Basket’

    Jun 23, 2017

    USA Rice recently wrapped up a partnership with retail dietitians at Jewel-Osco, a supermarket chain with stores across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. During the May promotion that coincided with Celiac Awareness Month, U.S.-grown rice was featured as a smart choice for shoppers following a gluten-free diet. Through Jewel-Osco Dietitians’ “Build a Better Basket” program, shoppers were introduced to U.S.-grown rice health benefits, versatility, and recipes through a print newsletter and blog, social media posts, weekly ad circular, and in-store point-of-sale signage. Full story
  • U.S. Paddy Allowed Unhindered Access into Colombia

    Jun 22, 2017

    On June 6, 2017, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) published “Official Resolution #6705 of 2017” which removed a previous resolution that restricted imported U.S. paddy rice to the port of Barranquilla. The previous resolution also implemented phytosanitary measures for the transportation of U.S. paddy rice and for the management of residues (such as husks) after being milled in Colombia. These mitigation procedures and restrictions to one port in Colombia are now null and void. Full story
  • Iraq Extends Agreement on U.S. Rice

    Jun 21, 2017

    USA Rice orchestrated a coordinated effort with U.S. State Department and Embassy officials here to ensure the extension of the U.S.-Iraq Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for rice that was set to expire last week. It has now been confirmed that the MOU has been extended by the government of Iraq until January 2018. The extension means exporters of U.S.-grown rice will have additional opportunities to make sales to Iraq through January of next year. Full story
  • USTR Ag Negotiator Nominated and Acting Deputy Under Secretaries at USDA Named to Keep the Ball Moving

    Jun 20, 2017

    A key trade figure has been nominated and acting undersecretaries named. Full story
  • CA miller Alex Balafoutis shakes hands with and gives plaque to LA miller Robert Trahan USA Rice Millers’ Association Announces New Chairman, Vice Chairman

    Jun 19, 2017

    Last week, the USA Rice Millers’ Association (RMA) announced the election of Alex Balafoutis, Vice President of Sales for the Rice Business Unit at PGP International in Woodland, California, and Keith Gray, Vice President of Supply Chain at Riviana Foods, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Each will serve a two-year term that begins August 1, 2017. Full story
  • DP-USA Rice Welcomes Cameron Jacobs-170619 USA Rice Welcomes Cameron Jacobs

    Jun 19, 2017

    Cameron Jacobs joins the Domestic Promotion team. Full story
  • U.S. Rice Makes an Impression at the Friendly Culture Fair in Mexico

    Jun 16, 2017

    USA Rice participated in the International Fair of Friendly Cultures in Mexico City to promote U.S. rice at the most widely attended festival yet. Full story

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