By Sarah Moran
USA Rice
ARLINGTON, VA – USA Rice will conduct the inaugural Aromatic Rice Quality Symposium this summer, in conjunction with the organization’s annual July Business Meetings in Dallas. The symposium will be on Wednesday morning, July 8, in the National Ballroom I at the Thompson Hotel downtown.
“The mere fact of this event is a testament to the growing importance of aromatic varieties in U.S. rice production,” explained USA Rice’s Dr. Steve Linscombe, who is helping coordinate the event. “The 2026 crop in the United States will include close to 50,000 acres of aromatic rice which is by far the largest acreage ever devoted to these specialty types.”
Newly released aromatic varieties and experimental lines will be displayed and cooked for sampling by rice breeders from the University of Arkansas, the Rice Experiment Station in California, the Louisiana State University AgCenter, RiceTec, Texas A&M, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center.
While the 24 lines being featured will be primarily jasmine types, there will also be Della-types, basmati-types, and an aromatic medium grain.
“We invite everyone to join us as we evaluate these specialty type rice lines with distinctive fragrance and flavor that are becoming increasingly popular with American rice consumers,” Linscombe said.
For more information, please contact Steve Linscombe at (337) 296-685