An important staple food, rice has a history dating back thousands of years. Today rice is still a major food source for over two thirds of the world's population.

An average 600 million tonnes of rice are harvested throughout the world every year. This is equal to nearly 20% of the annual human energy need, and 13% of the annual protein need. As one of the world's most versatile foods, rice can be prepared in many different ways, and with the increasing interest in world cusine, rice offers even more opportunities than ever before to be enjoyed in a wide range of different styles.

The largest rice growing areas in the world can be found in Asia, where according to tradition rice farming began about 5,000 years ago, whereas rice has been cultivated in the USA for approximately 300 years. The USA is, after Thailand and Vietnam, the third largest exporter of rice worldwide. American rice, which is renowed for its high quality, is grown in even different U.S. states: Arkansas, California, Lousiana, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri and Florida.