At the Think Rice! tower with Dietitian Christine Palumbo (left)

ATLANTA, GA -- The USA Rice Federation found a new way to interact with attendees at this year's Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE).  More than 8,500 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers, and food industry leaders  were wowed by the interactive Think Rice! tower which gave attendees the opportunity to share the ways they encourage their patients and clients to incorporate rice when building a healthy plate.  

Well-known registered dietitian and author Christine Palumbo joined USA Rice staff to respond to dietitians' questions about rice nutrition and inform attendees about the role of rice in a healthy diet.

"Conversations with FNCE participants are important," said Palumbo. "It provides USA Rice with immediate feedback on the type of information and materials this group needs when they're working with select audiences like diabetic or gluten-intolerant patients."

"FNCE attendees are already huge proponents of brown rice, so our outreach to them is more about helping them communicate the health benefits of whole grain rice to their patients," said Katie Maher, manager of domestic promotion programs.  

"The dietitians were impressed with the variety of whole grain rice available and were even more enthusiastic to learn this rice is grown right here in the U.S. so they can recommend a safe and nutritious food while also reducing food miles," Maher said.

The Think Rice! tower will next be seen at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock in December.  

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

From left: Letha Vincent, Shannon Dietz, Bella Begnaud, Diana Francis, and   USA Rice's Mary and Randy Jemison.

CROWLEY, LA -- One hundred and forty-one dishes were entered in the 78^th annual International Rice Festival's Rice and Creole Cookery Contest sponsored by the USA Rice Federation on October 17. Shannon Dietz of Baton Rouge claimed the title of Chef de Riz (cooker of rice).

Overall winners from the rice-dish categories included Bella Begnaud of Lafayette, children's division and Junior Chef de Riz winner; Cameron Simon of Abbeville, intermediate division; Kody Arton of New Iberia, teen division; and Diana Francis of Lafayette, adult division. 

The contest is an opportunity for youth and adults to showcase the many ways that rice can be incorporated into the family diet. 

"The Volunteers for Family and Community Club appreciate the annual support of this contest by USA Rice," said Letha Vincent, contest organizer and chairwoman of the Rice and Creole Cookery Contest.

Contact:  Randy Jemison (337) 738-7009

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