Sugar industry of the United States
The sugar industry of the United States produces sugarcane and sugar beets, operates sugar refineries, and produces and markets refined sugars, sugar-sweetened goods, and other products. The United States is among the world's largest sugar producers. Unlike most other sugar producing countries, the United States has both large and well-developed sugarcane and sugar beet industries. Refined sugarcane, processed sugar beet, and high-fructose corn syrup are all commonly used in the U.S. as added sugars to sweeten food and beverages.
Historically, sugar production was important in the growth of slavery in
The Sugar Association is the trade association for the sugar industry in the United States. Sugar marketing in the U.S. is supported by sugar producers and the producers of sweetened food and beverages.
History
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2019) |
Caribbean sugarcane already accounted for a large part of New York City trade by the 1720s.[1]
Louisiana
Sugarcane was first planted in
Sugar production
Between the mid-2000s and 2019,
Sugarcane
Sugarcane production by state (thousands of short tons) | ||
---|---|---|
State | 2016/17 | 2019/20 |
Florida | 16,120 | 17,011 |
Louisiana | 11,520 | 14,629 |
Texas | 1,395 | 1,251 |
Source: United States Department of Agriculture[5] |
In the 2020s, sugarcane is grown commercially in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.[6][5]
Florida's sugarcane production expanded significantly since the United States ceased importing
In Louisiana, the northernmost cane-growing state, sugarcane production has been largely confined to the
Texas sugarcane is produced in the
Hawaii
Historically,
Sugar beet
Sugar beet production by state (thousands of short tons) | |||
---|---|---|---|
State | 2016/17 | 2019/20 | % of total |
Minnesota | 12,510 | 11,578 | 33% |
North Dakota | 6,252 | 6,124 | 18% |
Idaho | 7,038 | 6,789 | 20% |
Michigan | 4,589 | 4,336 | 12% |
Nebraska | 1,411 | 1,365 | 4% |
Montana | 1,586 | 1,390 | 4% |
California | 1,137 | 1,043 | 3% |
Wyoming | 951 | 894 | 3% |
Colorado | 927 | 767 | 2% |
Washington | 91 | 93 | 0.3% |
U.S. total | 36,920 | 34,751 | 99.3% |
Sugar beets are the other leading raw material for manufactured sugar in the United States. This is a sturdy crop grown in a wide variety of temperate climatic conditions and planted annually. Sugar beets can be stored for a short while after harvest, but must be processed before sucrose deterioration occurs. A recent development has been the introduction of genetically modified seed varieties. In the 2009/10 crop year, genetically modified varieties accounted for about 95 percent of planted area, up from about 60 percent in 2008/09.[4]
Sugar beets are grown in five regions encompassing eleven states and tend to be grown in
The largest region for sugar beet production is the Red River Valley of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Area planted in the Red River region increased consistently through the 1990s and into the 2000s and has accounted for the majority of total planted U.S. sugar beet acreage. Long, cold winters aid the storage of sugar beets harvested in October and allow the slicing of sugar beets well into the following spring, thereby making more efficient use of slicing capacity at the factories. Michigan, which is typically the third-largest sugar beet producer by planted area, has a similar production system, although relatively warmer temperatures mean the slicing season is more constrained to the late winter and early spring.[4]
Sugar beet production in the Northwest occurs in Idaho (which is typically the second-largest sugar beet-producing state by planted area), Washington, and portions of Oregon and California. Production in these states is typically on irrigated land. The sugar beet processing season is also shorter than in the Red River Valley, although investment in ventilated and covered storage techniques has allowed for a longer season and improved the quality of processed sugar beets. Contraction of production in this area is primarily due to the closure of three out of the four mills in California over the past few decades; with California production only occurring in the Imperial Valley.[4]
Sugar beet production occurs in the Upper Great Plains (north-central Wyoming, Montana, and western North Dakota) and Central Great Plains (southeastern Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska). This region typically accounts for about one-eighth of national planted area. As in the Far West, most sugar beet production in the plains areas occurs on irrigated land. Investment in covered and ventilated storage facilities has also lengthened the slicing season and improved processed sugar beet quality and processing efficiency in these areas.[4]
Sugar refining
In the late 19th century, sugar refining in the United States was controlled by the
As of 2019[update], companies that operate sugar refineries in the United States include American Sugar Refining, whose refinery in Arabi, Louisiana, is the largest sugar refinery in North America.[1]
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Pu'unene, Hawaii
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Sugar refinery in Arabi, Louisiana
Government support
The United States Department of Agriculture administers a program to ensure a price floor for sugarcane and sugar beet producers by limiting the amount of sugar that can be produced. It does this using:[8]
- Loans to producers for price support
- Limits on the amount of sugar each producer can sell
- An import quota on foreign-made sugar
- A program to convert excess sugar to ethanol fuel, when the other tools are not effective
In August 2014, the United States imposed
See also
- Hacienda Mercedita
- Sugar production in the Danish West Indies
- 2008 Georgia sugar refinery explosion
References
- ^ a b c Muhammad, Khalil Gibran (August 18, 2019). "The sugar that saturates the American diet has a barbaric history as the 'white gold' that fueled slavery". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ a b Downes, Lawrence (January 16, 2017). "The Sun Finally Sets on Sugar Cane in Hawaii". The New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ Yoo, Aileen S. (1998). "Washington Post". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sugar & Sweeteners: Background". United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c McConnell, Michael; Olson, David (August 16, 2019), Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook: August 2019, United States Department of Agriculture
- ^ "USDA ERS - Background". www.ers.usda.gov. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ McBride, Alex. "Landmark Cases: United States v. E. C. Knight (1895)". The Supreme Court | PBS. WNET. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020.
- ^ McMinimy, Mark A. (April 6, 2016). "U.S. Sugar Program Fundamentals" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ Josephs, Leslie (December 20, 2014). "U.S., Mexico Strike Deal to Scrap Sugar Duties". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Sugar Production. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 1, 2019.