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Rice Talk
Dwight Roberts, CEO of the US Rice Producers Association speaking to the
gathering at The Rice Market & Technology Convention, held in Miami, Fla. where
some 30 countries were represented.
Photo by John LaRose
Industry Leaders Gather To Share Tips About Rice
Betty Valle Gegg-Naeger
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
MIAMI, FL.
Some 30 countries from the Western hemisphere were represented at the The Rice Market & Technology Convention, held in Miami, Fla. recently. The US Rice Producers Association (USRPA) organizes and conducts the conference each year.
The 400 attendees and 230+ companies and affiliates that participated heard 23 different speakers focusing on various topics pertaining to growing, milling and marketing rice. The majority attendants were millers and marketers. Most of the millers in Latin America also farm rice, so farmers were also represented. Five farmer board members of the USRPA participated and met with foreign buyers.
“The convention began 10 years ago with different partners in Cancun as a very small gathering with about 100 present,” Dwight Roberts, CEO of USRPA. That organization has spearheaded the event 100 percent now the past 6 years. “We organize, conduct, carry it out and work with a lot of partners who sponsor the conference.”
This year’s event even attracted several countries from around the world which were curious about the event. Visitors arrived from China, India, Singapore, Vietnam, Italy, Switzerland, the U.K. and Ghana. Iraq and Kurdistan were represented also.
“We have a variety of presentations and breakout sessions on a wide range of subjects. We had a good group assembled; people come to network and make contacts, and that’s equally important. The program just sets the stage for it all,” he said.
“Some company heavyweights made a showing too, including ADM, Riviana, Bunge, The Rice Company, Jackson & Sons, Louis Dreyfuss, KBX, Poinset Grain, Euricom and major rice mills from around the western hemisphere. So, the big boys are here too,” Roberts summed. ∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower
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