NEW ORLEANS, LA – The 6th U.S. Rice Quality Symposium, a key part of the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference, was held here last week helping to ensure U.S. rice stays competitive by focusing on quality, innovation, and meeting specific market demands.  This year’s event featured 20 rice varieties—many of which demonstrated the cooking characteristics preferred by the Latin American market. 

The event brought together more than 30 importers, providing them with an opportunity to evaluate U.S. rice tailored to regional preferences.  Seven breeders from public universities and the private sector showcased their varieties, which were cooked under the directions of Costa Rica’s Luis Mariano Madriz de Hann of the National Association of Industrialists of the Rice Sector of Costa Rica (ANINSA) and Roger Umaña of National Rice Corporation (Conarroz).

Attendees also received detailed fact sheets outlining grain length, gel temp, milling yield, and amylose content.  All samples were evaluated by a single mill to ensure data consistency.  Importers from Central America reviewed each variety for suitability and will provide a follow-up analysis to USA Rice.

Following the symposium, USA Rice hosted a technical meeting with the Central American Rice Federation (FECARROZ) to discuss the growing threat of competing rice origins entering the region.

“We appreciate meeting with FECARROZ to discuss ways that U.S. rice can recapture market share in Central America,” said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice senior director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere.  “We look forward to continued discussions in March 2026 hosted by Honduras, which has been by far the largest importer of U.S. rice in the Central America region.”

Published Date: December 19, 2025