WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: RICE MONTHProfile America — Wednesday, September 11th.  To highlight its importance, both as a crop and as part of the changing U.S. diet, this is National Rice Month.  Globally, rice is the world's most important cereal grain.  Reflecting both our increasing cultural diversity and awareness of good nutrition, Americans have more than doubled their annual consumption of rice from 1980, from 9 1/2 to 21 pounds each.  Rice has been grown in America since the late 17th century, and is currently a $3 billion a year crop.  While not the world's leading producer, the U.S. is a major exporter of rice, sending nearly 4.5 million tons a year to overseas markets.  The grain is raised by farmers in Arkansas, California, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri and Louisiana.  You can find more facts about America's people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at www.census.gov.

Sources:  USA Rice FederationStatistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 217, 843, 848

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

RELATED LINKShttp://www.census.gov