Power players

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Iraqi Minister of Trade's refusal to entertain competitive bids from the United States has prompted a call for action from Louisiana Senator Mary L. Landrieu to the State Department and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Stuart Jones.  Senator Landrieu wrote to Secretary of State, John Kerry, asking him to defend the interests of rice farmers in the United States.

In her letter to Secretary Kerry, Senator Landrieu expressed concern that Iraqi Trade Minister, Mallas al-Hussaini, chose to purchase more expensive rice from Brazil and Uruguay earlier this month when bids from long grain rice exporters in the United States were at least $23 per metric ton lower in price.  The senator highlighted our reliance on international partners and urged the secretary to investigate why Iraq has stopped buying U.S. long grain rice.

USA Rice has been working with Congress and the Obama Administration to impress on the government of Iraq the importance of fairly including American rice in future tender offers.

USA Rice's chief operating officer, Bob Cummings, said, "USA Rice would like to thank Senator Landrieu for her quick and helpful actions as well as those of others in Congress and the Administration who have been active in protecting the interests of the rice industry in the United States.  We are eagerly awaiting the results of the November 16th tender."

Contact:  Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446

Ghana try this recipe at home, too!

 KUMASI, GHANA -- The USA Rice Federation is the lead organization in the multi-cooperator Global Based Initiative (GBI) "Great in Quality, Great in Taste" launched here earlier this month.  The GBI is designed to stimulate demand amongst foodservice professionals and also includes the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and the American Peanut Council (APC).

 Timed to coincide with the peak demand period of November/December, the program consists of seminars organized in three of Ghana's largest cities, Kumasi, Accra, and Takoradi, where more than 85 percent of consumption of these products occurs.  The program culminates in a grand cook-off event in Accra in December.

The Kumasi seminar attracted more than 300 foodservice practitioners in the artisanal catering sector.  Participants heard presentations on U.S. rice, U.S. poultry, and American peanut butter and savories.

A food and health specialist was on hand to answer questions about food in general and U.S. food products in particular, including a crowd favorite, Peanut Butter Soup with Rice and Chicken.

After the seminar, Mr. Yaw Agyare, managing director of Supreme Rice Ghana Limited, a company that donated rice samples, said: "This area has a thriving foodservice sector, and this program was extremely interactive.   I would definitely recommend USA Rice do a lot more of these programs as the benefits, I believe, are enormous."

Contact: Eszter Somogyi, 011-49-40-4503-8667

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