ONTARIO, CANADA -- Lengthy commutes, evening errands, and packed schedules have long contributed to making family mealtime a challenge here. Now, however, Canadians are spending more time at home and research shows family mealtime has taken on renewed value.
According to a recent study, 29 percent of Canadians have eaten together as a family more often over the past year. As Canadians adjust to staying home more and cooking more too, USA Rice has become a source of inspiration for consumers looking to prepare family-friendly dishes.
“Research shows that Canadians have been more creative with their cooking since the beginning of the pandemic and USA Rice is seizing this opportunity to expand our reach,” said Asiha Grigsby, the USA Rice director of international promotion in the western hemisphere. “Canadians have adapted to the current social climate and are looking for ways to revitalize family experiences including celebrations centered around home-cooked meals.”
Last month, USA Rice partnered with
@sneakymommies, popular social media influencers and recipe curators known for their easy recipes using “sneaky” ingredients. The “Sneaky Mommies,” also known as Nicole Cook and Natalia Maurer, created the Mediterranean Chicken Platter with Oregano-Lemon USA Rice Croutons for a family-style summer dinner idea. This content garnered more than 100,000 impressions across the Sneaky Mommies social media platforms including their
blog,
Instagram,
Facebook, and
Pinterest channels.
To further support Canadian consumers’ desire to spend more time enjoying meals with their families, USA Rice continues to focus this year’s social media campaigns on sharing fun, family and budget-friendly recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Recipes scheduled for this month include Maple Walnut Rice Cakes, Veggie Rice Puffs, Vegetarian Sloppy Joes, and Tex Mex Rice Croutons, all of which will be shared across the USA Rice Canada Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
“Nearly 90 percent of Canadians surveyed expect to keep cooking at home in a post-pandemic world,” said Grigsby. “USA Rice is happy to promote this trend of families reconnecting by eating together at home more often. It’s a great time for home cooks to experiment with new meal ideas and healthy food options, and U.S.-grown rice can lead the way.”
Canada is a top five export market for U.S.-origin rice. The U.S. currently has 50 percent of the market share of all types of rice there, totaling 92,714 MT, valued at more than $76 million, from January to May 2021.