ARLINGTON, VA –
The Rice Stuff usually releases episodes on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, but with National Rice Month starting today, they dropped
Episode 53 ahead of schedule to get in on the celebration.
It took seven guests to cover what’s in store for National Rice Month around the country, and they probably only scratched the surface.
In the first segment, USA Rice’s Cameron Jacobs and Deborah Willenborg returned to the studio to give a history of National Rice Month and a sneak peak of USA Rice activities coming this month. They also discussed the very popular National Rice Month Video Scholarship
video contest sponsored by American Commodity Company and administered by The Rice Foundation that launches today (see story below).
Then the show headed out to the states with Arkansas Rice’s Kelly Robbins and Becky Barnes Campbell, Laura Jane Giaccaglia from Mississippi State and Delta Rice Promotions, and Robbie Trahan, Louisiana rice miller and chair of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee sharing the many activities coming up in their respective states.
“From fun events like the upcoming Delta Rice Festival on September 15 in Merigold, Mississippi, to the more sobering activities like huge industry donations to area food banks, our guests covered the waterfront,” said show co-host Lesley Dixon. “The month celebrates harvest, but it really allows us to pay tribute to the men and women who get rice on plates here and around the world.”
Last up was nutritionist and dietitian Kelly LeBlanc from the Oldways Whole Grains Council back for her second appearance on the podcast. She explained why months set aside to specifically focus on a particular food or commodity are important, and noted that September is both National Rice Month and Whole Grain Month.