Long lines formed in Japan after cheap, emergency-use rice was made available at some retailers.
Japan is selling stockpiled rice directly to stores to ease high prices.
Supermarket costs dipped for the first time in three weeks but are still averaging nearly $13 a pound.
Stockpiles are low, but the Farm Minister says that the government is ready to release more if needed.
Those stockpiles are expected to be replenished this fall with the harvest of Japan’s 2025 crop.
Related Stories
Brooke Miller is carrying on three generations of farming while building an operation of her own.
Farm financial stress can affect more than a balance sheet when markets weaken, and costs stay high. A 2026 Southern Extension Committee update says many operations are cutting expenses, restructuring debt, and seeking additional income.
Negotiators are focusing on tariffs, market access, and economic security as broader trade discussions continue.
China’s expanding farm assistance in Cuba bears watching as food trade becomes part of regional influence.