As the scientific voice of the sugar industry, we represent nearly 140,000 sugar beet and cane growers and processors in the United States. These are the family farmers who plant, harvest and care for the sugar cane and sugar beets that bring classic sweet flavor—and more—to the foods we love. Together with our members, we work to better educate the public about how sucrose, or sugar, plays an amazingly functional role in nutritious, balanced and enjoyable diets.
People have been using sugar for thousands of years. Naturally, there’s a lot of information—and misinformation—about it. That’s why we’re here to help you discern the facts and get to know and enjoy nature’s oldest sweetener—in moderation, of course.
Did you know sugar beets and sugar cane have the greatest quantities of sugar in them? This is why farmers cultivate them for harvesting sugar instead of almonds, sweet peas or mangos.
Did you know sugar is used in the production of bioplastics for planes? Sugar and its co-products from refining and processing are used in many industries beyond food.
Did you know sugar is added to whole-grain, fiber-rich breads to balance the bitter flavors, help the bread rise by providing nourishment for the yeast, make the bread brown through a scientific process call the Maillard reaction, keep the bread moist and fresh by absorbing water from the atmosphere, serve as a natural preservative, and create the right texture (a little sugar results in a more dense bread, more sugar results in a lighter, fluffy bread)?
If there is a question you can’t find the answer to, email us at sugar@sugar.org and we’ll do our best to help.
