The U.S. Rice Industry Celebrates National Rice Month in September
Increased awareness encourages sustainable food choices in foodservice
July 27, 2009 – National Rice Month activities will take place across the country in grocery stores, restaurants, schools and rice-growing communities to celebrate the many benefits of U.S. rice, the industry’s use of sustainable practices, and to show support for U.S. farmers and our economy.
As the sustainability trend grows, foodservice professionals are menuing more U.S.-grown foods, showing increasing commitment to the health of the environment, natural resources and agricultural communities.
"Sustainably grown U.S. rice helps foodservice professionals and their customers reduce their carbon footprint by choosing domestically grown rice rather than rice transported from thousands of miles away," said Judy Rusignuolo, USA Rice Federation’s Director of National Consumer Education & Foodservice Marketing. "National Rice Month provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the many varieties of rice grown here and to support the efforts of U.S. rice farmers."
To assist chefs and operators in making responsible food choices the USA Rice Federation developed a new "Grown in the USA" logo that identifies rice products grown by farmers to the highest quality standards. Additional benefits of choosing U.S. rice include:
Creating wetlands and habitat for wildlife
Preserving U.S. agriculture in rice-producing states for economic stability
Building a farm-to-table awareness of sustainable food choices
The USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting programs to build awareness and usage of U.S.-grown rice. U.S. rice accounts for over 80% of the rice consumed in America. It is grown and harvested by local farmers in five south central states and California according to the highest quality and cleanliness standards. The U.S. produces an abundance of short, medium and long grain rice, as well as specialty rices including jasmine, basmati, arborio, red aromatic and black japonica, among others.
For more information, contact Rosa Marie Brantley at (410) 715-1500 x152.
