We grow, harvest and process sugarcane, right here in the U.S.
The Root of Our Business
Each year, we plant, harvest and process sugarcane into up to 850,000 tons of refined sugar, making us the country’s largest fully integrated producer of sugarcane and cane sugar.
Sugarcane 101
Sugarcane has a 12 to 15-month growing cycle. It is planted annually between September and January and harvested between October and late May.
Sugarcane is a giant grass that thrives in South Florida’s sunshine, abundant rainfall and fertile muck soils.
Each stalk contains more than 70% water, and the rest is 10-15% sugar and fiber.
We grow, harvest and process sugar for everyday foods like bread, juice, cereals and sweets.
We also package our sugar into small bags to sell directly to consumers at grocery stores.
Sugarcane farming supports over 19,000 jobs and contributes nearly $4.7 billion annually to Florida’s economy.
Easy on the Environment
The perfect crop for our region.
Sugarcane grows with minimal added inputs, thriving in Florida’s naturally rich environment. Cane gets most of what it needs from the region’s moist soil and abundant sunshine. In addition to producing food, sugarcane fields support local ecosystems by providing habitats for Florida’s native wildlife—how sweet is that?
At our refineries in Clewiston, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia, we use activated carbon filters—not bone char—to remove impurities from our sugar. That makes all sugar products made by U.S. Sugar businesses entirely plant-based and vegan-friendly.
Beyond Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a major part of what we do, but it’s not all we do.
Beyond Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a major part of what we do, but it’s not all we do.
Since 1931, U.S. Sugar has upheld farming values rooted in tradition and respect for the land. Today, we sustainably farm more than 250,000 acres across Highlands, Glades, Hendry, Palm Beach and Martin counties. Along with sugarcane, we also grow citrus and fresh vegetables—continuing our commitment to responsible agriculture and feeding American families.
U.S. Sugar operates citrus groves that produce some of the highest-quality orange juice in Florida. Our farmers work hard to ensure our fruit is the finest and freshest around, and we contribute significantly toward developing research solutions to citrus greening and other threats to citrus here and around the world.
U.S. Sugar’s “Fresh from Florida’’ corn is sold locally and nationally. In fact, our farmlands produce half of Florida’s sweet corn crop—that’s more than four million crates of sweet corn each year.
In addition to the major crops of sugarcane, sweet corn, and green beans we produce, we also lease our fallow land to other local farmers who grow sugar cane, citrus, sweet corn, green beans and other vegetables on more than 20,000 acres.
U.S. Sugar also has an ownership in Magnolia Packing, a local vegetable packing house. The packing house is a leading provider of green beans and yellow wax beans to customers in the United States and Canada.
