Representatives from USA Rice and the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board kicked off the “Think Rice Road Trip” in Crowley today. 

September is National Rice Month and leaders from Louisiana’s rice industry presented the Louisiana Food Bank Association with a rice donation in recognition. 

Michael Klein, Vice President of Domestic Promotion for USA Rice, says, “The other thing was that we’re actually kicking off our Ride With Rice Road Trip. We’re taking 3000 rice cookers and 3000 pounds of rice that’s been donated by the mills around the country and we’re driving around the country giving it out to people encouraging them to get creative with rice.” 

Rice farmers and millers made a donation, almost 100,000 pounds of Louisiana grown rice to those in need here in the community. 

“The Louisiana rice industry has a dynamic impact in Southwest Louisiana and myself and other producers are really keen on trying to share that awareness and grow throughout different organizations,” Richard Fontenot, producer and rice farmer from Ville Platte. 

This “Think Rice” tour is a way to make consumers who may not be familiar with rice more aware of what rice actually is and where it’s grown in the United States.     

Fred Zaunbrecher, producer from Acadia Parish, adds, “Our goal is to make people aware of rice, to make them accept the product, and then to eventually use the product.” 

according to Kane Webb, Director of Field Services for the USA Rice Federation, this year in total, Louisiana rice industry and its mills and rice growers have donated many pounds of rice to food banks in Louisiana. 

“It’s donated by the mills in South Louisiana: Falcon Rice Mill, Supreme Rice Mill, Farmers Rice Mill, and Planters Rice Mill,” explains Webb. 

Another goal of this “Think Rice” tour is to teach consumers the benefits of USA grown rice.  

The “Think Rice” tour’s next stop is in West Monroe.