HURRICANE WILMA RAVAGES SUGAR FARMERS
DAMAGE EXCEEDS $400 MILLION

CONTACT:
GASTON CANTENS 561-655-6303
JUDY SANCHEZ 863-902-2210

WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- November 8, 2005 – Hurricane Wilma will cost Florida’s sugar farmers hundreds of millions of dollars. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

According to Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, the sugar growing area was one of the hardest hit by Hurricane Wilma. After touring the sugar region, Commissioner Bronson said that he expected Wilma's impact to exceed that of the 2004 hurricanes.

Damages to sugar farming from the 2004 hurricanes exceeded $370 million. Early estimates of Wilma's impact on Florida sugar farmers exceed $400 million.

Because sugar cane is harvested several times from the same planting, Wilma’s damage will impact next year's crop as well.

Wilma’s winds exceeded 100 mph and twisted and flattened sugar cane and caused major structural damage to warehouses, refineries, and equipment. Damaged cane will slow the harvest activities and increase costs.

On a positive note, harvesting has resumed and mills are beginning to process the damaged sugar cane.