Grand Debut for USA Rice at Alimentec

USA Rice booth at Alimentec, people standing around holding gift bags & green umbrellasBOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- The 10th annual Alimentec International Food Trade Fair took place here earlier this month and for the first time USA Rice was an exhibitor.  More than 30,000 professionals from 27 countries attended the trade show -- the leading platform for the food and hospitality industry and restaurants in the Andean and Latin America that accounts for more than $40 million in revenue for the food and beverage industry.  Exhibitors came from Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, China, Cuba, and the United States.  

During the three-day event, USA Rice garnered a lot of attention in the organization’s inaugural appearance, and members made contacts with importers interested in importing U.S.-grown rice such as Best Choice, and United Millers of Medellin (Molinos Unidos de Medellin).  Other visitors to the USA Rice booth included the hotel, restaurant, and institution (HRI) industry magazine "Revista La Barra," and the Rauch Brothers, locally recognized chefs.

“Alimentec is an important tradeshow for USA Rice because it gives immediate access to industry leaders in the Western Hemisphere, and our presence here creates an opportunity for them to be educated on the benefits of U.S. grown rice,” said Carmen Marquez, consultant for USA Rice, who attended the show.  

Colombia is the third largest economy in Latin America.  Due to the U.S. – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, 102,879 MT of U.S. rice can be exported to Colombia duty-free this year.  Any amount of rice exported above that amount is subject to a 73.85 percent tariff rate.  Last year, Colombia was the U.S. rice’s ninth largest export market bringing in over $50 million worth of rice.