SAN ANTONIO, TX – USA Rice participated in the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) held here at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center October 24-27. Hosted annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, FNCE is the largest annual gathering of registered dietitians (RD), nutritionists, healthcare providers, researchers, policy makers, and food industry leaders and brings the various stakeholders together to explore emerging trends in nutrition and health. FNCE 2026 welcomed more than 7,500 attendees.

At the USA Rice booth, attendees enjoyed access to resources highlighting U.S.-grown rice, including nutrition research one-pagers, an RD-approved guide listing rice varieties and their nutritional components, and the U.S. Grown Rice Nutrition Toolkit. USA Rice also showcased its K-12 Cookbook, which was updated this year, along with materials highlighting the domestic rice industry’s sustainability commitments and ongoing efforts.

USA Rice staff were also present to answer any questions visitors had about rice’s role in helping consumers attain and maintain a healthy diet. Commonly addressed topics included rice recommendations in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the looming school nutrition standard, rice’s role in driving consumption of other healthy foods, and the application differences between rice varieties.

An interactive U.S.-grown rice themed plinko game added a hands-on element to the USA Rice booth, giving visitors another way to engage with USA Rice staff while learning about the domestic rice industry and the U.S.-grown difference.“Social media feeds a lot of misinformation around nutrition, and FNCE gives us an opportunity to listen and exchange knowledge, and also to connect directly with nutrition professionals and provide them with credible resources while sharing the story and messaging of U.S.-grown rice,” said Morgan Crafton, USA Rice Domestic Promotion Coordinator, who helped staff the booth. “Many attendees are still unaware that rice is grown in the U.S., or that there are so many varieties available domestically. FNCE provides USA Rice with a valuable platform to make inroads with this important audience to help support the inclusion of U.S. grown rice in nutrition education and meal planning nationwide.”

Published Date: November 6, 2026