Sugar Producer

30 Sugar Producer NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 Strong as Ever America's sugar industry has come together during a tough year. FROM THE ASA By Phillip Hayes | Director of Media Relations As we look forward to the next year, we have been reflecting on the incredible hardships that faced American agriculture over the past 12 months. 2020 was certainly a year for the record books, especially for America's sugar producers. Yet, adapting to new challenges is a defining characteristic of rural America. And America's sugar farmers and workers have proven their courage and resilience in the face of unprecedented adversity. Together, America's sugar industry has endured a difficult harvest, a global pandemic, and all the normal risks that come with growing and producing an essential food ingredient. Sugarbeet growers began 2020 dealing with the aftermath of disastrous weather events that damaged the 2019 beet crop and left many farmers unable to get into the fields to harvest. It was the worst damage that beet growers had experienced in decades. Then, the COVID-19 crisis swept across the country. As the pandemic was unfolding, sugarbeet growers who farm in southern California's Imperial Valley were gearing up for their harvest, which was set to begin on April 1. It was a harvest unlike any before, but Extraordinary gestures are an ordinary act for an industry that prides itself on providing a helping hand and investing in sustainable communities. because America must continue to eat, sugar growers continue to farm, and workers continue to produce sugar. This is not a responsibility America's sugar industry takes lightly. As California sugar grower Curt Rutherford said at the time, "With the health crisis facing the nation, I feel that the agricultural community will come through and provide a safe, bountiful supply of food and fiber for the nation. We have millions of Americans depending on our farms and factory to meet their needs." The sugar industry pivoted quickly to adapt to disruptions caused by COVID-19 in order to keep consumers supplied with an essential ingredient. The unique nature of the sugar industry ensured that food manufacturers and consumers had reliable and affordable access to a homegrown staple. While sugar farmers and workers were still working in fields and factories, they were also working to support each other and keep our rural communities strong. These extraordinary gestures are an ordinary act for an industry that prides itself on providing a helping hand and investing in sustainable communities. Sugar producers made donations to food pantries and provided sugar to distilleries to produce hand sanitizer. They provided protective equipment to keep frontline health care providers safe. And sugar companies led the way in instituting new safety precautions and programs to support employees as well as other local businesses. Once again, sugar farmers are either finishing or in the midst of harvest. Despite economic challenges, unforeseeable weather events and a new healthcare crisis, America's sugar industry is working hard to feed our nation and support the communities that rely on the success of our industry. It has been inspiring to see the many ways the whole industry has pulled together this past year. While we hope that 2021 is a brighter year, we know that America's sugar industry is resilient. Together, America's sugar farmers and workers will face whatever challenges lie ahead. n

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