USDA Seeks More U.S.-Grown Rice Vendors for Food Purchasing Program

ARLINGTON, VA -- Following the announcement of the $12 billion in federal aid to American farmers for damages from retaliatory tariffs, USA Rice has been working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to learn more about trade mitigation assistance programs, including the Food Purchase and Distribution Program. 

During several meetings with senior USDA officials, USA Rice discussed domestic rice varieties that are affected by trade tariffs and how the USDA could include more U.S.-grown rice in their food purchasing program.  The following U.S. varieties were identified as those most impacted by current trade tariffs:  white long grain rice, brown long grain rice, medium grain rice, white long grain parboiled rice, and brown long grain parboiled rice.   

USDA plans to purchase multiple varieties of U.S.-grown rice in an assortment of packaging styles and sizes for distribution in schools, food banks, senior citizen communities, Indian tribal organizations, and disaster areas.

As part of an effort to recruit more certified commodity vendors, USDA will host two “How to Become a Certified USDA Vendor” webinars, one tomorrow, Thursday, August 16, and another on Thursday, August 23.  Both of these sessions will cover steps to become a USDA “approved vendor,” links and tools to help navigate the new vendor registration process, a review of the Master Solicitation and Product Specifications, and next steps if approved.  These webinars are free, but do require registration and space is limited.

USDA and USA Rice will hold a private conference call about the program and certification process for members during the month of September.  Details regarding this conference call will be made available to USA Rice members once a date and time are confirmed.

“I would encourage all USA Rice members who are interested to take part in the upcoming webinar,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward.  “We appreciate USDA efforts to certify more of our members as procurement vendors, and their desire to include more U.S.-grown rice in their food purchasing program.”
 
Go here for more information on how the vendor process works and opportunities to sell to USDA.