Chea Vanyuth / Khmer Times

Synopsis: The move marks a strategic effort to penetrate North America’s lucrative speciality food market.

The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) has showcased premium rice during the 70th Summer Fancy Food Show 2026 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, United States, held from June 28 to 30.

The CRF delegation, led by its president Lay Chhun Hour, comprised the country’s premier rice millers and exporters in an effort to target the US market.

The participation was supported by the Royal Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, the Cambodia Rice Federation, and financial support from the state-run Rural Development and Agriculture Bank (ARDB).

This is the first time Cambodia has participated in the Summer Fancy Food Show 2026, which featured a group of private sector products under the umbrella of the pavilion of the Cambodian flag.

The move marks a strategic effort by Cambodia to penetrate North America’s lucrative speciality food market, showcasing its award-winning premium varieties, including the world-renowned Phka Rumduol jasmine rice, directly to US buyers, distributors, and retailers.

“This program enables member companies to participate in this food exhibition with the aim of promoting Cambodia’s quality rice and diversifying the market to increase opportunities and connect with international buyers, especially those in the United States,” CRF said in a statement issued yesterday.

Summer Fancy Food Show 2026 is one of the largest food trade events in the United States, focusing on showcasing high-quality and innovative products such as organic and sustainable products, making it an important platform for companies looking to expand their international markets and secure large-volume sales contracts.

Known as the food mecca of New York City, the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show brings together tens of thousands of speciality food professionals for the industry’s premier product discovery event.

Ban Lim, Deputy Director General of the state-run Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB), joined the event, citing that the enthusiastic participation of these companies is not only an opportunity to find new business partners, but also reflects a sustainable and highly responsible production chain that truly responds to the trends and demands of the US market.

“ARDB and CRF will continue to work together to provide both capital and strategic strength to make Cambodian agricultural products a leading choice on the table of people around the world,” he said.

Song Saran, CEO of AMRU RICE (Cambodia), views Cambodia’s rice participation at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City as a joint effort to promote Cambodian farmers and their commodity to the world market.

“This program is an important opportunity to promote the quality of Cambodian rice, find new business partners, expand export markets, and bring the perfect taste of Cambodian rice to consumers in the United States and international markets,” Saran said.

CFR figures showed that Cambodia exported 568,912 tonnes of milled rice to international markets in the first five months of 2026, generating $327 million in revenue, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

Published Date: June 30, 2026