Arkansas Rice Industry Donates over 30,000 Pounds of Rice for Hurricane Relief

LITTLE ROCK, AR, September 23, 2005 — The Arkansas rice industry donated more than 30,000 pounds of rice yesterday to help feed needy families in Arkansas from Hurricane Katrina. The donation was made honor of National Rice Month. Participating rice mills included Cormier Rice Milling, DeWitt; Producers Rice Mill, Stuttgart; Riceland Foods, Stuttgart; Riviana Foods, Carlisle and Specialty Rice, Brinkley.

The Arkansas Rice Council representatives and Miss Arkansas Rice County winners, presented the rice to Laura Rhea, president and CEO of the Arkansas Rice Depot. The Depot is a statewide food bank that works with 600 Arkansas hunger programs, including food pantries, school food programs, disaster relief and a hunger hotline.

“We began by purchasing rice to distribute to needy families and have since evolved into a statewide organization helping families across Arkansas — and it’s all thanks to rice growers,” Rhea said. Last year, the Arkansas Rice Depot distributed more than five million pounds of food to 73,630 needy families.

“Even though Arkansas rice farmers and millers are going through difficult economic times right now, they are glad to help their fellow man,” Arkansas Rice Council President Robert Petter said.

Arkansas is the nation’s largest rice-growing state, producing nearly nine billion pounds annually. National Rice Month is now in its 15th year and is sponsored by the USA Rice Federation.

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Photo caption: Left to right: Jillian Harper, Benton County; Megan Thompson, Arkansas County; Nikki Nash, Monroe County; Robert Petter, Arkansas Rice Council president; Krista Westerman, Poinsett County; Liz Roberg, Lonoke County and Rebecca Stiles, Lee County.

CONTACT: Chuck Wilson, (870) 673-7541, cwilson@usarice.com

USA Rice Federation is the national advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting activities to influence government programs, developing and initiating programs to increase worldwide demand for U.S. rice, and providing other services to increase profitability for all industry segments.