In This Issue:
In This Issue:
On Wednesday, July 28th, the much anticipated Sabor USA competitive cooking event was held, which was broadcast on Facebook LIVE. Sixty students from the Culinary Arts school "Les Art Culinaires," in El Salvador, competed to prepare the best recipe with products imported from the United States, including a category for rice.
Students presented some amazing dishes including an impressive sweet rice dish with strawberries and dried fruit presented as a main course.
Jean Manes, the Charge d'affaires for El Salvador at the US Embassy was the guest of honor and gave the inaugural address at the competition. USRPA's promotional work and sponsorship of the event was recognized throughout the day, bringing attention to the nutritional benefits of US rice which the campaign, translated to "Eat Healthy, US Rice, Guaranteed Nutrition," continues to promote.
July 1st marked the start of USRPA’s digital campaign in El Salvador with the slogan: Eat Healthy, USA Rice, Guaranteed Nutrition. For this year’s campaign, a new Instagram account was created under the name of ArrozYSalud which will draw in a younger, active, and more involved audience. The account will feature influencers who will encourage healthy rice consumption with new dynamic and vibrant content.
Similarly, our Facebook account was revamped with a current following of 9,192 under the URL: http://www.facebook.com/arrozysalud. The campaign shares important content via live videos and posts which encourage engagement. Social media influencers, Chef Juan Salomón Miguel, who has an established career in traditional media and now on social media, and Rodrigo Valdivieso, a well know nutritionist to athletes, will be joining the campaign and bringing their followers to help spread the message that U.S. rice is healthy, tasty, economical and versatile.
On Tuesday, July 27, the House Committee on Agriculture held a business meeting (Webcast link) to consider H.R.267, the 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act. HR 267 was amended (Amendment) to broaden the bill to cover disasters in 2020 and 2021, among other things. H.R. 267 reauthorizes the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Protection Act (“WHIP+”) and provides $8.5 billion for payments to producers for losses from hurricanes, wildfires, and other qualifying natural disasters. The Committee favorably reported the bill as amended by voice vote.
Chairman Scott said, “I’m glad that we were able to come together in a bipartisan way to pass this bill that, once enacted, will provide the framework for getting much-needed disaster assistance to our agricultural producers.”
In recent weeks, the USA Arroz Facebook fan page has seen a rapid increase in followers with more people interested in learning how to cook U.S. rice.
The virtual learning trend continues to gain popularity as a way to connect with others safely and conveniently. For these reasons, USRPA and ARROZGUA jumped on the trend early on as a way to connect with consumers and teaching them new ways to prepare nutritious and economical recipes with classes via Facebook Live and Zoom Webinars.
According to media monitoring reports, Facebook is the most used social network in Guatemala. The last cooking class reached nearly 2,000 initial streams, which continue to be shared amongst users on social media.
While the United States pulled out of the “Trans-Pacific Partnership” (CPATPP) agreement negotiations at the beginning of the Trump Administration, Mexico and a number of other countries did not. Among the eleven countries that signed the agreement in March of 2018, making it effective on December 30, 2018, are Vietnam and Mexico, along with Canada, Peru and Chile in the Western Hemisphere.
The bottom line effect on rice means that Vietnam, well-known for low prices and non-compliance with WTO regulations, will have duty-free access to Mexico, the most important long-grain market for U.S. rice farmers, after only a 10-year phase-in period.
This week, Pedro Schettino, owner of Schettino Hermanos rice company and a major buyer of U.S. rice, visited Louisiana where he met with Governor John Bel Edwards and South Louisiana rice farmers.
“Everyone in Mexico and the United States, both rice farmers and mills must realize the devastating effect this will have on the rice industries of the two countries,” informed Mr. Schettino, adding “we must find new approaches to maintaining our unique rice trade relationships.”
After a visit with the Louisiana Governor and Mark Pousson of the Louisiana Independent Rice Producers Association (LIRPA), Mr. Schettino visited the South Louisiana Rail Facility in Lacassine and area rice farms where he met with numerous farmers and Dwight Roberts of the US Rice Producers Association (USRPA).
“I applaud Mr. Schettino’s visit and initiative regarding TPP and calling attention to what should be a very serious concern to all long-grain rice farmers and mills in both countries. His efforts on behalf of all Mexican rice farmers and millers is commendable”, says Roberts.
“Research efforts by the USA Rice Federation clearly indicate a range of trade-distorting practices that exceed WTO obligations, so it's imperative that meaningful actions are taken,” Roberts added. Pedro Schettino also visited Supreme Rice Mill during his visit to Louisiana which was hosted and coordinated by both LIRPA and the USRPA.
PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
19 de Julio 2021
CONTACTO: Alex Clark | Veronica Galvan
+ 1 (713) 974-7423
Katy, Texas (19 de julio, 2021) – En una reunión reciente en The Woodlands, Texas, la junta directiva de US Rice Producers Association (USRPA por sus siglas en Ingles) seleccionó a Marcela García para que se desempeñe como la nueva presidenta & CEO de USRPA, en reemplazo de Dwight Roberts, quien dejará el cargo a partir del 1 de agosto de 2021. Durante los últimos 5 años, García ha ocupado el cargo de directora de operaciones y directora de la exitosa Convención de Mercado y Tecnología Arrocera durante 10 años.
Graduada de la Universidad de Houston con una licenciatura en administración de empresas y un menor en marketing, emprendimiento y español, García es originaria del sur de Texas, donde su familia se dedica a la ganadería y la agricultura. “Hace varios años, Marcela asumió varios roles de liderazgo para la USRPA y su amplio conocimiento y las relaciones comerciales del arroz en todo el hemisferio occidental servirán a nuestros productores de arroz extremadamente bien,” dijo el CEO saliente, Dwight Roberts, que también agregó, “tenemos talento joven, los agricultores que ingresan a nuestra junta directiva y nuestra nueva generación de talentos del personal están listos para liderar la USRPA hacia el futuro.” Después de 23 años al frente de la USRPA, Dwight Roberts se desempeñará como asesor de la organización a partir del 1 de agosto.
La junta directiva de USRPA también eligió nuevos funcionarios para 2021-2023. Felicitaciones a Alex Clark de Poplar Bluff, Missouri por ser elegido nuevo presidente. El productor de arroz del este de Texas, en Dayton, Neal Stoesser, será el vicepresidente y Dustin Watkins, que cultiva cerca de Welsh, Luisiana, es el nuevo secretario-tesorero. La junta agradeció al Dr. Thomas Wynn de Egypt, Texas por su servicio a la asociación durante los últimos dos años, que vieron a los agricultores lidiando no solo con condiciones climáticas extremas sino también con una pandemia mundial.
US Rice Producers Association, que representa a los productores de arroz en Arkansas, California, Luisiana, Mississippi, Missouri y Texas, es la única organización nacional de productores de arroz compuesta por productores, elegidos por los productores y que representan a los productores en los seis estados productores de arroz de los Estados Unidos.
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Katy, Texas (July 19, 2021) – At a recent meeting in The Woodlands, the Board of Directors of the US Rice Producers Association (USRPA) selected Marcela Garcia to serve as the new President & CEO, replacing Dwight Roberts who is stepping down effective August 1, 2021. For the past 5 years, Garcia has held the position of Chief Operating Officer and the Director of the highly successful Rice Market & Technology Convention for 10 years.
A graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Spanish, Garcia is originally from South Texas where her family is involved in cattle and farming. “Several years ago, Marcela assumed a number of leadership roles for the USRPA, and her extensive knowledge and rice trade relationships throughout the Western Hemisphere will serve our rice farmers extremely well,” said out-going CEO, Dwight Roberts, while adding, “we have young, talented rice farmers coming onto our board of directors with our new generation of staff talent, USRPA is ready to lean into the future.” After 23 years at the helm of the USRPA, Dwight Roberts will serve in an advisory role for the organization, beginning August 1st.
The USRPA board also elected new officers for 2021-2023. Congratulations to Alex Clark from Poplar Bluff, Missouri for being elected as the new Chairman. East Texas rice farmer, Neal Stoesser from Dayton, Texas, will serve as Vice-Chairman and Dustin Watkins who farms near Welsh, Louisiana is the new Secretary-Treasurer. The board thanked Dr. Thomas Wynn from Egypt, Texas for his service to the association during the past two years which saw farmers dealing not only with weather extremes but a global pandemic as well.
The US Rice Producers Association, representing rice producers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas, is the only national rice producers’ organization comprised of producers, elected by producers, and representing producers in all six rice-producing states.
PORTAGEVILLE, Missouri (July 15, 2021)
Dr. Justin Chlapecka has been named Rice Extension Specialist and Assistant Research Professor with the University of Missouri, effective August 1.
In this new partnership between the University of Missouri and the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, Chlapecka will lead rice agronomy research efforts, conducting research at both the Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, as well as the Missouri Rice Research and Demonstration Farm near Malden.
“The MRRMC has partnered with the Fisher Delta Research Center for many years, and we’re excited to continue this collaboration in a new capacity,” David Martin, Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, said. “Justin’s expertise will undoubtedly strengthen the Missouri rice market.”
Chlapecka holds a doctorate in Crop Soil and Environmental Science from the University of Arkansas, where his research focused on rice agronomy.
“I feel very blessed to be led into the opportunity of serving the Missouri rice industry in what will undoubtedly be a mutually beneficial relationship,” Chlapecka said. “Through the partnership of the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council and MU, I am very excited to take my experience with the University of Arkansas and build on that here in Missouri for years to come.”
For more information on the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, visit www.missouririce.com.
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