When the news broke out that India had put a ban on non-basmati rice, especially Telugu folks in the U.S., rushed to the grocery stores, forming long lines.
The panic lasted the first day, and a smaller section of people who don’t actively follow the news or are not active on WhatsApp groups realized it late and went to grocery stores the next day, but there weren’t any rice bags left in most stores.
However, Desi grocery stores, by allowing one bag per person helped, and the majority managed to get 1-2 bags minimum, while some individuals grabbed 10-15 bags from several different stores in their area.
Now, there is no panic anymore for rice bags; everything has calmed down after the initial rush. People are not really concerned anymore, as they realized that white rice or sona masuri is not the only option; various other similar non-Indian rice products are available. NRIs quickly overcame their fear.
