An independent study for the USA Rice Federation by Food Research Associates has found rice consumption in the United States hit an all-time high in 2000. For the year, per capita consumption of rice jumped to 27.09 pounds, a 2.2% increase over figures for the previous year.

The 67.257 million hundredweight milled rice shipped by U.S. rice mills in the 1999-2000 marketing year was a 3.6% increase over the previous year, according to "U.S. Rice Distribution Patterns 1999-2000 Report," the study compiled for the USA Rice Federation and covering August 1, 1999, through July 31, 2000.

The study found rice usage strong across all categories, with direct food use (regular-milled, brown, parboiled and precooked) accounting for 58% of rice sold. The direct food use category includes grocery, foodservice, warehouse clubs and domestic USDA feeding programs. Food processing accounted for 25% of rice sold, with beer brewing accounting for 17%.

Domestic shipments of specialty rice showed a strong jump from the previous year's results. This category jumped 166% to 10.68 million hundredweight, led by increased sales of parboiled, brown and aromatic rice.

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