WARSAW, POLAND – USA Rice participated at the fifth edition of the “Let’s All Grill!” promotions, an effort initiated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Poland to increase demand and awareness for U.S.-origin food products here. The event was held at Yes Butcher!, a high-end steak restaurant in Konstancin, located south of Warsaw, with more than 120 guests from the foodservice industry, chefs, importers and influencers in attendance.
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Thomas Rose welcomed guests to a fun, food filled evening that featured chefs preparing a variety of U.S. commodities, including rice and wild rice, beef, salmon, and wines, to help showcase how Polish restauranteurs and chefs can incorporate delicious, high quality U.S.-origin products into their menus.
“This was a great opportunity to network with different segments of the Polish foodservice market and gain a better understanding of their needs and priorities,” said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, who attended the event. “Throughout my visit I met with current and potential importers of U.S. rice, sharing valuable insights on the developments of the Polish rice market. While historically Poles consume potatoes as their main dietary staple, rice consumption has been increasing in the past couple of years driven by a broader diversification of diets, growing importance of world cuisine, and an emphasis on health consciousness. For example, sushi is very popular in major metropolitan areas and Korean cuisine is trending up as well providing an opportunity for growth for U.S. rice sales. We look forward to exploring the possibilities for cooperation with the local importers here.”
Poland is part of the EU and does not grow rice. Total rice imports amounted to 226,000 MT in 2025, mostly from Myanmar and Cambodia as well as European suppliers. The U.S. exported 1,750 MT of rice in 2025, with a value of $1.4 million, making Poland the fifth largest destination for U.S. rice sales within the EU, after Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.