You may want to post this over in Rec.food.cooking.

I think that fresh is best period.  However shipping  these days can
lead to spoilage even if the dates are good.  The current spinach E-coli
as an example of other issues.

Still I go with fresh a bit redundant  but it's me.

Life force is nothing more than life begetting life.  Place a best grade
shrimp or slice of tuna in a glass of water and it will rot in a day or
two.  Place Rice grains and they may sprout.  But in order to eat the
rice one must cook it and in a day or it will rot if treated like the
tuna.  Putrefaction has almost no obvious rewarding virtues.  But all
seed must rot to sprout and grow. Bacteria like ants are trying to clean
up the environment just like vultures on a larger scale.

So where is this going?  Slowing down Putrefaction by canning or
freezing  gives us time to retain freshness virtues.  Enzymes, sugars
and amino acids closer to the fresh state.  In a way it is adding energy
to fight nature.  

Take a peak here for canned rice which is very easy to make your self.  

NOTE PRICE if folks work for you!!!

http://www.edenfoods.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6703

Bill

PS  A crock pot and recipe search will yield lots.

Here is one.

http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm?once=true&