USA Rice Federation members and staff met with the rice team at Uniflex Marketing, USA Rice’s representative in Japan, to review progress in promoting U.S. medium-grain rice to Japan’s foodservice sector.

The delegation also met with the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. embassy to provide an update on USA Rice promotional activities and to review the unique market access challenges in Japan. Embassy representatives will also join the USA Rice team tomorrow in a day-long meeting with Japan’s rice industry and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for the 11th Annual U.S.-Japan Rice Technical Meeting.

The USA Rice delegation includes Alex Balafoutis, PGP International, chairman, U.S.-Japan Technical Committee; Todd Burich, ADM Rice, Inc.; Chris Crutchfield, American Commodity Co., LLC; Ken Florky, Connell Rice & Sugar Co.; Jim Higa, Sun Valley Rice Co., LLC; Kirk Messick, Farmers’ Rice Cooperative; Michael Rue, California rice producer; and Bob Cummings, USA Rice Federation.