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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

Jack Roney on Fox Business

Factors Driving the Sugar Market: Jack Roney of the American Sugar Alliance on the commodity's banner year last year and where prices are headed.

American Crystal Sugar Company

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

RGVSG Chairman Dale Murden on the upcoming Farm Bill

Members of the House Agriculture Committee are traveling the country to hear from producers about the upcoming Farm Bill. Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Chairman and cane grower Dale Murden discusses the sugar provisions he hopes will be included in the 2012 Farm Bill.