09/10/2025
Arkansas Rice Industry Donates over 312,000 Pounds of Rice in Honor of Rice Month
Little Rock, Ark. - The Arkansas rice industry donated 312,400 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Foodbank in honor of National Rice Month today. The donation from six mills will provide over 2.5 million servings of rice to help feed families, children, and seniors across the state.
Participating rice mills are Isbell Farms of Humnoke, Poinsett Rice & Grain of Jonesboro, Producers Rice Mill of Stuttgart, Ralston Family Farms of Atkins, Riceland Foods, Inc. of Stuttgart, and Windmill Rice Company of Jonesboro.
"Arkansas rice farmers grow over 50% of the nation’s total crop and will produce rice on 1.2 million acres this year in over 35 counties, all of which are served by the food banks of Arkansas,” said Arkansas Rice Executive Director Kelly Robbins. “As rice harvest continues, our growers want to be good stewards by giving a portion of their crop to hunger relief efforts in our state."
September is also Hunger Action Month. Arkansas ranks first in the nation for food-insecurity. One in four children do not know where their next meal will come from. This rice donation will go directly to agency partners and will fill shelves at food pantries for families in need.
“This gift of rice to the Foodbanks of Arkansas is so much more than just a meal. This rice will provide hope and nourishment to those who need it most,” said Arkansas Foodbank CEO Brian Burton. “This record-setting donation will be distributed between the five other Feeding America food banks in our state who are working to provide food to our neighbors: River Valley Regional Food Bank in Fort Smith; Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro; Harvest Regional Food Bank in Texarkana; Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock; and Northwest Arkansas Food Bank in Springdale. All of us are incredibly grateful for our rice farmers who play such a critical role in the fight against hunger.”
Arkansas Rice Chairman Dow Brantley, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward,
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Arkansas Foodbank CEO Brian Burton.
Arkansas is the largest rice-growing state in the nation, producing nearly 9 billion pounds annually. This year, Arkansas family-farmers will produce over 50 percent of the nation's rice. Arkansas rice growers and millers contribute over $6 billion each year to the state's economy and employ over 25,000 Arkansans.
