USA Rice Daily

Oct 25, 2016

Last week, at the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE), USA Rice surveyed 230 health professionals to gain insight on rice attitudes and usage. The good news is that health professionals are huge proponents of rice. In fact, 98 percent of those in a position to make dietary recommendations, said they encourage their patients to include rice and rice products in their diet. But their responses also shed light on education gaps and growth opportunities for the rice industry. Full story

Oct 24, 2016

Oct 21, 2016

Popular opposition to trade agreements and EU protectionism of “sensitive” agricultural products, including rice, are two factors holding back progress on a massive trade deal between the United States and the European Union called the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T-TIP. A delegation of USA Rice members and staff traveled here last week to meet with EU officials, private sector agriculture groups, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s office at the U.S. Mission to the EU. Full story

Oct 20, 2016

Oct 19, 2016

A delegation of USA Rice members and staff visited here last week to participate in the Biannual Symposium of the UK Rice Association, where more than 100 members of the UK rice trade, including importers, wholesalers, and retailers servicing the mainstream and ethnic markets gathered. Full story

Oct 19, 2016

Oct 18, 2016

USA Rice conducted a chef seminar in South Korea with one of the largest food manufacturing and foodservice distribution companies in the country. Full story

Oct 17, 2016

The Obama Administration announced a number of new directives that will bolster trade between the United States and Cuba, and while one is particularly welcome, others point to the continued exclusion of rice – a potentially top export to the island if only remaining hurdles can be cleared. Full story

Oct 14, 2016

Oct 13, 2016

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) held a joint 2016 International Food Assistance and Food Security Conference where USA Rice heavily promoted advances in fortified rice. Full story

Oct 12, 2016

U.S. and global rice prices continue the drop into dangerous territory along with an array of other commodity staples within the global diet. Weak market prices are no stranger to rice farmers or nearly any crop farmer, for that matter. But there’s hope on the horizon. University of Arkansas Distinguished Professor and L.C. Carter Endowed Chair Dr. Eric Wailes made some promising projections during a recent speech at the Arkansas Rice Expo, based on a number of market factors. Full story

Oct 12, 2016

Oct 11, 2016

USA Rice recently produced a series of videos for social media with seasonal themes featuring festive recipes to celebrate Mexican holidays. The first video features Chiles en Nogada, a traditional dish of chiles stuffed with meat and dried fruits topped with a walnut sauce usually served for Mexican Independence Day each September because its ingredients are seasonal. Full story

Oct 11, 2016

Dora Lou Hoskyn, of Stuttgart, Arkansas, passed away on Saturday, October 8. She was born in July 1943, in Brewer, Arkansas, and is survived by her husband, Thomas Charles (Tommy), children, Angie and Dusty, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Full story

Oct 07, 2016

Oct 06, 2016

Last week, USA Rice participated in the 20th Annual Americas Food and Beverage Show and Conference here - Florida’s most important international food and beverage show - that boasted 500 exhibitors and attracted 10,000 attendees and buyers from more than 63 countries. Buyers, suppliers, and industry experts came together at this high-energy event, focusing on the commercial exchange between the Americas and the Caribbean. Full story

Oct 05, 2016

Viet Nam, one of the largest producers and exporters of rice in the world, and one that comes under frequent suspicion of violating World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, is under new scrutiny for violating U.S. food safety regulations. Between January and August of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected 95 shipping containers of jasmine rice and rice products from Viet Nam citing illegal pesticide residue in all but one of the cases. Full story

Oct 04, 2016

USA Rice is participating in “Taste of America 2016” (TOA), a food event here conducted by the U.S Embassy’s Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) that highlights American food culture. This is the sixth such event this year where participating restaurants introduce special menus using U.S. food ingredients. Full story

Oct 03, 2016

During the month of September, rice growers and millers posted their best rice images on various social media channels with the hashtag #ThinkRice as part of a special National Rice Month contest hosted by USA Rice. After reviewing the many captivating videos and pictures submitted by members across rice country, USA Rice has selected Michael Bosworth as the contest winner. Full story

Oct 03, 2016

The International Rice Festival named Donald A. Leonards the 2016 Farmer of the Year. Leonards, a fourth generation farmer, was born and raised on a rice farm just north of Crowley and will be recognized during this year’s festival here, October 20-23. Full story