BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- USA Rice recently hosted a seminar here, conducted by Executive Chef Bernardo Gomez Cortazar, focusing on the high quality and benefits of utilizing U.S. rice dishes and poultry products in food service. More than 60 participants from the hotel and foodservice sector attended the interactive activity which took place at the prestigious Mario Moreno culinary academy, one of the best culinary schools in Latin America.
The seminars were sponsored by USA Rice, the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, and the United Soybean Board. Similar seminars were conducted in Cali and Medellin.
"U.S. rice exports to Colombia have skyrocketed this year, making Colombia our number one export market on a milled rice basis," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president of international promotion.
In the first four months of 2015, the U.S. has exported nearly 240,000 MT of rice, which is nearly 150,000 MT above the tariff rate quota (TRQ) for 2015. Just four years ago, Colombia was our 51st largest export destination bringing in less than 5,000 MT of U.S. rice.
Guinn added, "After the successful conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia and the establishment of an Export Trading Company to manage the licenses to import U.S. rice into Colombia under the TRQ, Colombia has been one of our top export markets."