The California rice industry is coming to the aid of their friends and business colleagues in Japan who have suffered devastating losses from the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Through the California Rice Industry Association trade group, growers, marketers, mills, and warehousemen that comprise the California rice industry are voluntarily donating $50,000 to the Japanese relief effort.

“Our industry owes much to the Japanese people, and we are deeply saddened by the natural disasters that have struck,” said Frank Rehermann, California Rice Industry Association chair. “We are coordinating with the Japanese Consulate General in San Francisco to do what we can to help their recovery.”

California rice farmers grow the premium medium and short grain rice in demand for many cuisines. Japan is traditionally the top overseas market for California rice.

“Our concern lies with the people of Japan who have suffered greatly,” Rehermann said. “Their contributions not only to California rice but to the entire state are tremendous and longstanding. Hopefully today’s actions are the first of many ways we can help the Japanese people on the difficult road of recovery.”

In addition, the California Rice Commission website www.calrice.org contains a link to relief efforts to help the Japanese people.
For more information, contact Jim Morris at (916) 387-2264 or [email protected].