America Rice Returns to Iraqi Market

For the first time since the 2000/2001 marketing year, U.S. rice has reentered the Iraqi market. USDA reported Thursday that Iraq purchased 60,000 metric tons of U.S. rice.

"Iraq previously was an important market for a wide variety of commodities, including rice, corn, wheat, feed ingredients and wood products," says Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. "USDA staff in Iraq and here at home have been working diligently on behalf of U.S. agriculture to develop that market again."

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., says, "In the case of America's agricultural goods, the reliability and quality of our product sells itself, with these outstanding results made possible by our trade and agriculture representatives within the private sector and in government."