USA Rice Federation's K-12 "Healthy Rice Bowls Contest" Kicks Off During National Rice Month

Arlington, VA — September marks National Rice Month and the start of USA Rice Federation’s annual “Healthy Rice Bowls Contest” for kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) school foodservice directors and menu planners. Meeting a variety of school foodservice needs, rice bowls encourage healthier eating habits in students, help schools meet the U.S. Dietary Guidelines’ recommendation for more whole grains on the menu and fit students’ desires for more global flavors.

Entries will be accepted Thursday, September 1st through Friday, October 28th, 2011. Winners will be promoted on USA Rice’s foodservice website, MenuRice.com, and will receive:

Grand Prize:

• $250 VISA gift card toward their school’s education fund
• Two Aroma rice cookers one commercial-size cooker for their school and one consumer-size cooker for home

 First and Second Runners-Up:

• Each receives a commercial rice cooker for his/her school

Last year’s winner, Cynthia Ruffin, Child Nutrition Director for St. Charles Parish Public Schools, increased lunch participation by 24% with her creative “Build-A-Bowl” rice bar featuring three options: Sweet and Spicy Chicken Rice Bowl, Thai Curry Rice Bowl and California Sushi Rice Bowl. “Introducing new flavors was such a success that we are planning to feature the rice bowl bar regularly,” said Ruffin.

For more entry information, rules and regulations, visit www.MenuRice.com/k12ricebowlcontest.

The USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all segments of the rice industry, conducting programs to build awareness and usage of U.S.-grown rice. U.S. rice accounts for 85% of the rice consumed in America. It is grown and harvested by farmers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas according to the highest quality standards. The U.S. produces an abundance of short, medium and long grain rice, as well as organic and specialty rices including jasmine, basmati, arborio, red aromatic and black japonica, among others. Look for the U.S. rice industry’s “Grown in the U.S.” logo on packages of 100% domestically grown rice.

Source: The USA Rice Federation