Houston Area Food Banks Have a Rice Day

ALVIN, TX, September 09, 2010 (Press-News.org) On September 8, 2010, the Alvin-based headquarters of RiceSelect , producers of Texmati rice, will become 8 tons lighter. That's because the company, which produces specialty rice, couscous and orzo, will be loading 16,000 pounds of Texas-grown long grain white rice destined for delivery to the Houston Food Bank at 3811 Eastex Freeway, as well to the Alvin Community Food Pantry at 1212 S. Durant Street. Both non-profit organizations will receive the rice as a donation from RiceSelect.

"We're very proud to support two extremely worthy organizations," says Deborah Locke, product manager for RiceSelect. The donation, which will be packaged in 50-pound bags, is equivalent to over 160,000 cooked servings. "This will go a long way in helping provide nutritious meals to those in need," says Locke. "Each day in southeast Texas, 53,000 people suffer from hunger, 3,600 of them children," says Brian Greene, president of the Houston Food Bank. "Rice is a staple product that can help stretch a food budget. We're grateful to RiceSelect for their generous donation for hungry families and individuals."

In 2009 the Houston Food Bank distributed more than 65 million pounds of food to those in need—thanks to charitable companies like RiceSelect. The Alvin Community Food Pantry serves an average of 200 people per week. RiceSelect's 16,000 pound rice donation comes on the heels of their 1,000 pound contribution of Texmati Brown Rice to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn, ME, in April.

RiceSelect is a division of RiceTec, a leading developer, producer, miller and marketer of specialty consumer products. RiceSelect brands include Texmati , Jasmati , Kasmati , Sushi and Arborio, as well as Royal Blends , Texmati Medleys, Couscous and Orzo. RiceSelect products are produced in Texas and can be purchased in over 23,000 stores in North America.