U.S. rice -- the feel good food
Sep 15, 2015
ARLINGTON, VA – Usually USA Rice’s Virginia staff celebrates September National Rice Month with an office cook-off and luncheon. Family rice recipes square off against professional recipes selected from the USA Rice archives, and there are always a few rice desserts. But this year, with the new RiceGiving program in full swing, the staff decided to go out to lunch to support rice’s newest partner.
The staff descended on a neighborhood P.F. Chang’s, the upscale Asian-inspired eatery that is promoting America’s rice farmers with the RiceGiving program. For every rice entrée ordered by customers during September, participating USA Rice members will donate a serving of rice to a family in need through the nationwide charitable organization, Feeding America.
“We did our part today,” said Katie Maher, USA Rice’s director of domestic promotion who organized the lunch. “Most of us wore our Think Rice t-shirts and we ordered so many rice dishes there was barely room on the table!”
Maher said at the halfway point in the program she’s confident P.F. Chang’s customers will max out the rice industry pledge of up to one million servings for Feeding America.
“We were very excited that P.F. Chang’s partnered with us to let consumers know that all their rice is sustainably sourced from U.S. farmers, is gluten and GMO free, and a great source of important vitamins and minerals,” said Betsy Ward, USA Rice president & CEO who attended the lunch. “Today’s lunch was an opportunity for our staff to celebrate the rice industry and we couldn’t have done it with a better partner than P.F. Chang’s.”