CLEWISTON, FLORIDA — April 29, 2004-- U.S. Sugar announced today that the Company will voluntarily relinquish its Talisman lands years early to expedite Everglades restoration.

“We think that this is an important step forward in Everglades restoration, and we are pleased to cooperate with the South Florida Water Management District to accelerate plans for water treatment and storage areas on this land,” said Robert Coker, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs.

U.S. Sugar is releasing all 18,000 acres of its leased Talisman acreage, including 11,000 acres with several years of cane production remaining. This land will enable the SFWMD to begin construction of additional water treatment and storage reservoirs, providing benefits to the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee and the coastal estuaries.

“While there were some business issues that needed to be resolved, this was the right thing to do. We worked through the technicalities and agreed to vacate the property early so that the tremendous progress that has been made in Everglades restoration can continue,” Coker said