Louisiana-developed rice could chip away at Thai jasmine grains’ share of US market
By Janet Mcconnaughey, APWednesday, December 23, 2009
Louisiana rice may rival Thai jasmine grain in US
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana State University has developed an aromatic rice that is set to compete with the Thai jasmine variety that accounts for $350 million in U.S. business a year.
The strain, called Jazzman, is being sold in Louisiana under several labels, the biggest being Jazzmen Rice LLC.
A partner in Jazzmen, Andrew Wong, says the company expects to boost production from 500 tons this year to 63,000 tons by 2011. That would equal about 18 percent of last year’s imports from Thailand.
Louisiana’s rice industry has struggled to regain a footing after the 2005 and 2008 hurricane seasons. While the price for traditional rice has risen, jasmine rice can fetch a premium.
YOUR VIEW POINT
