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USA Rice Daily
Up-to-the-Minute News on Issues and Activities
Monday, March 30, 2015

Agriculture Tops the Trends at Culinary Conference  

 
White and wild rice salad on the
conference lunch menu
 
WASHINGTON, DC -- This weekend, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) held its annual conference to facilitate an exchange of information, knowledge, and inspiration within the professional food community.  In attendance were hundreds of culinary professionals including, chefs, food media, culinary school instructors, food writers, marketers, nutritionists, and academics.

 

Keynote speakers included Jos� Andr�s, an internationally acclaimed chef, and a panel from National Geographic discussing the future of food.

 

"Food and food sourcing are hot topics right now and USA Rice needs to get in on the conversation," said Katie Maher, USA Rice's manager of domestic promotion programs.  "There's an opportunity to include farmers in this discussion to leverage the 'grown in the USA' message and tell the rice industry's sustainability story."

 

Other noteworthy topics at the conference included consumer attitudes data and food trend forecasts. 

 

"Tapping into the evolving marketplace and understanding the needs of today's culinary audience is important," said Maher.  "It helps USA Rice gather new ideas to support our goal of creating awareness for U.S. rice while at the same time advancing the dialog between chefs and the farmers they rely on to produce fresh, healthy, high quality ingredients."  

 

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for March 30

Month
Price
Net Change
May 2015$11.120
+ $0.130
July 2015$11.365
+ $0.130
September 2015$11.510
+ $0.120
November 2015$11.690
+ $0.140
January 2016$11.845
+ $0.135
March 2016$11.845
+ $0.135
May 2016$11.845
+ $0.135

In the News 

California Agriculture Industry Could Lose $1 Billion in Two Years Because of Drought

Press Democrat

With a fourth dry year unfolding, there is a nagging sense in farm country that California has "established a new normal" that includes severe cutbacks in deliveries from two major water systems.

 

Comparison of ARC-County and PLC Without SCO Under 2014 Farm Bill  

Delta Farm Press

If one is simply not going to use a farm bill decision aid and wants to gain an increased understanding of farm-by-farm and crop- by-crop options, you're encouraged to view a presentation and accompanying county tables that may provide insight into ARC-CO (ARC-county) and PLC (SCO-Not Included) program options.

 

Farmers in Near Survival Mode as California Drought Drags On CNBC

In 2013, Mike DeWit, a second-generation rice farmer in Northern California, farmed about 1,050 acres. This year, he'll farm between 350 and 380 acres-that's down as much as 66.7 percent in just two years. "We know there's going to be water cutbacks," DeWit said. "I know there's going to be less acreage."

 

Jos� Andr�s Gets Political at Food Conference in D.C. Washington Post

During his keynote address at the International Association of Culinary Professionals conference Saturday morning, Andr�s sounded more like a presidential candidate than a chef and restaurateur. Andr�s largely ditched his prepared remarks and spoke spontaneously to the gathered chefs, authors, researchers and academics. He regularly roamed the stage and urged the culinary professionals to understand their power to make changes in the world.

 

Why Investors Like AOL Co-Founder Steve Case are Betting Big on Food

Washington Post

Mammoth stock debuts over the last year, including the initial public offerings of Shake Shack, Potbelly and Zoe's Kitchen, have piqued investors' interest and heated up competition. Venture capitalists poured $1.1 billion into food and beverage companies worldwide in the first half of 2014, up from $1.6 billion in all of 2013, Dow Jones VentureSource data show.

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