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More Sugar Facts

  • America's sugar producers support 146,000 U.S. jobs.
  • Sugar farmers don't receive government subsidy checks.
  • Sugar producers generate nearly $10 billion a year for the U.S. economy.
  • Sugar policy is predicted to cost taxpayers $0 in 2010.
  • Sugar is produced in 18 states.
  • Sugar is used in 70% of manufactured food.
  • Sugar producers' fuel costs have skyrocketed by 251% since 1985.
  • Two-thirds of Americans believe sugar in the U.S. is inexpensive.
  • Food manufacturers pocket lower sugar prices to boost profits instead of sharing the savings with shoppers.
  • Sugar policy didn't cost taxpayers a dime in '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08 and '09.
  • 38 of America's foreign sugar suppliers are developing countries and most support U.S. sugar policy.
  • The average American consumes 44 pounds of sugar a year.
  • Seven out of ten of Americans prefer buying homegrown sugar, even if foreign sugar is cheaper.
  • 100% of sugarbeet companies are owned by farmers.
  • Dependence on foreign sugar in WWII forced the government to ration sugar.
  • Food companies in Europe pay, on average, 12% more for sugar.
  • One-sided trade deals force the U.S. to import sugar from 41 countries regardless of our needs.
  • The world sugar market is a thinly traded, heavily subsidized dump market and is the world's most volatile commodity market.
  • America is the world's second largest sugar importer.
  • NAFTA made Mexico the only sugar producer-domestic or foreign-with unlimited access to the U.S. market.
  • 71% of America's sugar production comes from beets, the rest from cane.
  • Sugar producers' labor costs are up 110% since 1985; farm equipment costs 75% more.
  • Sugar prices in Mexico have historically been higher than U.S. prices.
 

Symposium

Audio & Video

American Crystal Sugar Company

American Crystal Sugar Company is a world-class agricultural cooperative specializing in the production of sugar and related agri-products.

Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida Learn how sugar is grown, harvested, milled and refined.
Jack Roney, ASA Director of Economics and Policy Analysis, Talks About Sugar Policy's No-Cost Projection Through 2020

Just as it has since 2002, the U.S. sugar policy is projected to operate at zero cost over the next ten years, according to USDA.