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 9½ 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>.