California grows about 20 percent of the rice produced in the United States, second only to Arkansas. Most California rice is a high-quality medium grain rice. The state grows more than half this country's medium grain rice and virtually all the short grain rice. About 70 percent of California rice is consumed in the United States and its territories. California rice is a key ingredient in many food products such as baby food, breakfast cereals, snack foods and premium beer.
All rice leaves California's mills in a processed form, so the economic value is greatly increased.
Americans have doubled their consumption of rice in just over a decade. The annual average is over 21 pounds per person. Rice consumption in the United States has been increasing about four percent annually and rice authorities expect this trend to continue. Consumption of rice in California is expected to climb even faster because of the growing number of Asian and Latino immigrants who typically consume more rice than the average U.S. population. Americans' interest in healthy diets is also contributing to the increase in demand for rice.