The price of rice in Ecuador has doubled since last June, reaching 70 dollars per quintal. However, there are three events that could potentially reduce the cost: the local harvest has begun, 15,000 tons of rice from Uruguay are slowly arriving, and the Phyto and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency is processing a permit to import rice from the United States. The price of rice remains high in the Sierra, but there is hope that the current harvest and imports can bring prices down.