UACES Facebook Cooperative Extension Service to spotlight ARoma 17 at Downtown on the Farm
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Cooperative Extension Service to spotlight ARoma 17 at Downtown on the Farm

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 23, 2019

Fast facts: 

  • Cooperative Extension Service will showcase ARoma 17 rice variety at Downtown on the Farm event Oct. 27
  • Free rice samples, cookbooks for visitors 

(300 words)

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service will showcase its newest aromatic rice variety at Downtown on the Farm from 12-6 p.m. Oct. 27 at the River Market Pavilions and First Security Amphitheater in downtown Little Rock. 

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The free event, hosted by Arkansas Rice and the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, will highlight Arkansas agriculture and include live music and food. 

The Cooperative Extensive Service will offer samples of ARoma 17, a long-grain rice variety developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and released last year. The new variety is well adapted to growing in Arkansas climates and appeals to consumers who enjoy jasmine-type aromatic rice varieties.  

“Aroma 17 has a nutty aroma and taste that many people enjoy,” said Dr. Victor Ford, associate director of agriculture and natural resources for the Division of Agriculture.It is not readily available due to being a new release, but there is a good demand and will be more widely available in the next few years.” 

The Cooperative Extension Service will also give away rice cookbooks, available at its booth. 

Downtown on the Farm will feature live music by Adam Hambrick, Bonnie Montgomery, The Going Jessies and Rodney Block, and will also feature food trucks, pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, beer garden, corn dig, tractors and other activities. Food trucks will be on site along with offerings from local restaurants including @ the Corner, Allsopp & Chapple, The Capital Hotel, Cathead's Diner, Gus's Fried Chicken, Samantha's Tap Room, Soul Fish Cafe and South on Main. 

To learn more about Division of Agriculture rice breeding programs, contact your local Cooperative Extension agent or visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station online at https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow the Cooperative Extension Service on Twitter at @uaex_edu.

About the Division of Agriculture 

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.   

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.  If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your (insert appropriate office) as soon as possible.  Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.  

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Media Contact: Tracy Courage
Director of CES Communication
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
tcourage@uada.edu 
501-671-2126

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