USA Rice Daily Up-to-the-Minute News on Issues and Activities Tuesday October 20, 2015 U.S. Rice Takes Center Stage at Food Service Show in Mexico     At the USA Rice workshop with   Chef Alejandro Espinosa (in black)  PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO -- Earlier this month, USA Rice was a sponsor of Vallarta-Nayarit Gastronomica, a premier trade show here that attracts gastronomic personalities from all over Mexico as well as top international chefs.  These food service professionals gather to participate in live cooking shows and specialized workshops, and to propose culinary innovations for their peers at culinary institutions throughout Mexico.   Many of the chefs used U.S. rice during their cooking demonstrations before a foodservice audience of more than 1,200.  Chef Jorge Jurado from Panama used U.S. parboiled rice as the main ingredient in the dishes he prepared on stage as well as in the Panama booth in the exhibition area of the event.  Two renowned Spanish chefs, Michelin Star Chef Kisko Garcia, and Chef Eva Millán, discussed the importance of using U.S. rice in restaurants and hotels citing its versatility.   USA Rice offered specialized rice workshops conducted by Chef Alejandro Espinosa who has vast experience cooking rice in some of the top restaurants and hotels around the world.   "Rice is extremely versatile and has great profit margins for a variety of dishes," said Chef Espinosa.  "We prefer parboiled rice in the foodservice sector and are very supportive of the use of the Authentic American seal to signal the high quality of the product."   USA Rice regularly participates in trade shows throughout Mexico to showcase U.S. rice to a wider audience, gather new trade contacts, and learn about new food trends.   Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457 CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures    CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for October 20 Month Price Net Change November 2015 $12.175 + $0.070 January 2016 $12.465 + $0.075 March 2016 $12.735 + $0.070 May 2016 $12.975 + $0.070 July 2016 $13.155 + $0.055 September 2016 $12.445 + $0.030 November 2016 $12.445  + $0.030 In the News Around Washington FAA Plans to Register Unmanned Drones Agri-Pulse Faced with more and more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) violating U.S. airspace and interfering with fire and rescue operations,  Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta announced plans to move ahead with registering all drones.     Around the World In Mauritius, Gourmet Rice Points to a Brighter Future New York Times Mighty Rice, as it is called, was developed by cross-pollination in Bangladesh, its slick black-and-white packaging exalts the volcanic soil and rain-fed streams of Mauritius - marketing the benefits of the place it is grown as much as the food.     Science and Technology With Organic Rice in Demand, Scientists to Help Farmers Improve Production Phys.org The research team plans to develop a strategy for organic rice production and also will develop a web-based economic analysis tool with interactive budgets to help farmers make decisions for their own organic rice production     Tariffs and Trade TPP to Lift 95% of Tariffs on Farm, Factory Goods Japan News Concerning rice as a staple food, Japan will set new import quotas for the TPP, in which rice will be imported tariff-free. The import quota from the United States will be 50,000 tons in the first year after the TPP goes into effect, and the amount will be increased to 70,000 tons in the 13th year.   U.S. Producers Playing Catch-Up in Expanding Trade with Cuba Delta Farm Press Video report: Rep. Rick Crawford says U.S. shippers can offer Cuba much faster deliveries and higher quality grains such as rice with the introduction of the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act. Upcoming Events  Events Calendar   Recent Issues October 19 October 16 October 15 October 14 October 13 Mission Statement USA Rice is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses. About Us Editor:  Michael Klein (703) 236-1458 mklein@usarice.com Fax (703) 236-2301 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 610 Arlington, VA 22201 This report is time-sensitive, based on information available at press time. Content is derived from facts and sources believed to be reliable. Reprinting and/or distribution may be done with permission of the USA Rice. Copyright © 2015. Please direct comments or questions to the editor or contact name listed for each story.