The U.S. rice industry produces 20 billion pounds of rice annually.
There are 5,563 rice farmers throughout the country that grow rice across a collective 2.8 million acres.
Most of the farming is done by family farms across six major rice-producing states of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas.
On average, each rice farm contributes $1 million to their local economy.
The U.S. rice industry contributes more than $34 billion to the U.S. economy annually and provides jobs for more than 125,000 people in the U.S.
The U.S. is the 5th largest rice exporter in the world and the largest rice exporter outside of Asia.
Each year the U.S. rice industry distributes 40 million pounds of rice to combat food insecurity.
95 percent of all sushi eaten in the U.S. is made with U.S.-grown rice.
80 percent of all the rice consumed in the U.S. is grown in the U.S.
The average American consumes 27 pounds of rice a year.
U.S.-grown rice is naturally gluten-free and the least allergenic of all the grains.
All U.S.-grown rice is sodium-free, cholesterol-free, and GMO-free.
A serving of U.S.-grown rice delivers over 15 vitamins and minerals.
National Rice Month (September) was officially designated by a presidential proclamation in 1991.
