Rice consumption swells

Prepared Foods, March, 1999

Per capita consumption of rice rose to 26.29 lbs. in 1997-98 from 25.38 lbs. the previous year, according to the USA Rice Federation, Houston. Several factors are contributing to rice's popularity, including healthy eating, Asian-style "bowl" restaurants and ethnic foods.

More than 90% of the rice consumed in the U.S. is grown and milled here. U.S. rice mills shipped 64.2 million hundredweight milled rice in the 1997-98 marketing year, up 5.7% from last year. U.S. farmers are now growing rice varieties - jasmine, basmati and arborio - which were available only as imports.

Direct food use (regular-milled, brown, parboiled and precooked) accounted for 58% of rice sold. Food processing accounted for 25% of rice shipments; beer brewing captured 17%.