Anaheim: The Ministry of Commerce is promoting organic and healthy rice to target the US market. The Department of International Trade Promotion announced the successful participation of Thai organic rice producers in the Natural Products Expo West (NPEW) 2026 trade show in the United States. The event garnered significant interest from importers, distributors, and retailers, with projected orders exceeding 150 million baht within one year. This reflects the potential of Thai organic and healthy rice in the global market.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Arada Fuengthong, Director-General of the Department of International Trade, revealed that the department led six Thai organic rice producers to participate in the Natural Products Expo West (NPEW) 2026 trade show, held from March 4-6, 2026, in Anaheim, USA. NPEW is the largest organic and health product trade show in the United States and a key platform for connecting producers with importers, distributors, and retailers worldwide.
The participation in the event was very positive, with over 2,000 visitors to the Thai booth. The projected value of orders within one year is approximately US$4.55 million, or around 150 million baht. This represents a success that opens up trade opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs in the US market.
For this event, the Department of International Trade was honored to have Mr. Tor Sornlump, Consul General of Thailand in Los Angeles, and Mr. Niwat Hansawat, Director of the Thai Trade Center in Los Angeles, participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Department's booth, along with representatives from related agencies.
Inside the booth, an exhibition showcased samples of Thai organic rice and organic rice products, along with cooking demonstrations using Thai organic rice by Thai restaurants certified with the Thai SELECT symbol. Visitors were able to sample the dishes, which garnered significant interest. The event attracted particular attention to colored rice and healthy rice varieties such as Riceberry and low glycemic index rice, which are highly nutritious and help control blood sugar levels. Food products made from rice, such as gluten-free and high-fiber products using rice as a main ingredient, aligned with the growing consumer trend of health consciousness.
The success of this participation reflects the recognition and confidence in the quality standards of Thai organic rice in the US market, as well as consumer trends prioritizing health, sustainability, and natural ingredients.
Promoting organic rice and high-quality rice products is a key strategy being driven by the Department of International Trade under the policy of Commerce Minister Supajee Suthamphan, which aims to increase the value and diversity of Thai rice products in order to enhance competitiveness and continuously expand export markets in the future.