What a Treat! America’s Sugar Farmers Keep Halloween Sweet

This Halloween, Americans are estimated to spend a record $3 billion on Halloween candy for a second year in a row.

Despite the inflationary rise of candy prices, the sugar in it still only accounts for a couple cents per treat. In fact, a recent study by the University of Tennessee confirmed that sugar prices are not the primary driver of candy costs.

The cost of an average candy bar today is $1.69 but the cost of the sugar in it is only roughly $0.02 – that two cents per candy bar has to stretch pretty far to support 151,000 jobs and thousands of family farms across a dozen states.

While American sugar farmers and workers are proud to provide the sweetness in your favorite candies, this year has been no treat for farmers. American sugarbeet and sugarcane farmers have faced down skyrocketing input costs, droughts, freezes, and supply chain complications to bring in a record sugar crop (estimated to be 9 million tons).

	“It gets harder each year to stay afloat as a family farm. But we keep our harvest going because we know sugar – real sugar! – is an essential and beloved ingredient for so many celebrations.” Nate Hultgren, Hultgren Farms in Minnesota
“I’m really proud that the sugar from my harvest makes it into the candy millions of people enjoy on Halloween. But times are tough. Without the support of Americans and Congress, my family farm won’t make it. Who will candy companies turn to when American sugar farmers have been driven out of business?” Todd Landry, a sugarcane grower in Loreauville, LA

So, this Halloween, remember that it is only thanks to the resilience and dedication of people like Nate and Todd that America’s sweetest industry hasn’t turned into a ghost story…