Port of Stockton Lands Rice Export Tender

Stockton, CA, December 16, 2002 – The Port of Stockton was selected to handle 100 percent of the most recent Japanese tender for California bagged rice as issued by the Japanese Food Agency. Connell Rice & Sugar Company of Berkley Heights, New Jersey was awarded the supply contract totaling 57,000 metric tons of bagged milled rice. Deliveries from the rice mills are tentatively scheduled to begin arriving at the Port in early January 2003. The bagged rice shipments will be loaded aboard five vessels during late January and early February 2003 with destinations to Japanese ports to be determined at a later date.

This most recently allocated tonnage is in addition to 24,000 metric tons of bagged rice currently being received as part of the Japanese Minimum Access business. The Port of Stockton will have two vessel calls in early January to load these shipments that are being supplied by Connell Rice & Sugar and Farmers Rice Cooperative.

“The Port of Stockton is very pleased to have secured the nominations for handling these shipments,” stated Port Director Richard Aschieris. “The Port has worked diligently to attract this business by providing quality service and facility to promote the export of California agricultural products to world markets.”

With recent exports of more than 80,000 metric tons of bagged rice to S. Korea and Uzbekistan having been loaded to vessels since August 2002, the Port of Stockton is being recognized by the California rice industry as a premier port facility.

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