Probably more about sugar than you want to know

U S Sugar Corporation in the Cleweston area produces about 10% of the USA sugar consumption. We toured some of the cane fields, mill and refinery. The corporation is one of the largest in the US and owns 187 thousand acres in this area, the mill here can process 45,000 tons of sugarcane per day. Typically the cane contains 13% sucrose, some molases, 11% fiber and 73% water. The fiber residue, called Bagasse, is the fuel that powers the factory.


Mighty sweet. This field will soon be harvested, note all the dry foliage around the canes. The fields are laid out in 40 acre squares. First the fields are set on fire to reduce all the plant but the cane. The burn is fast and a few hours later they are in the field harvesting the cane.



Burning the cane field.


A tractor pulling two carts paces the harvester, each cart holds 6 tons of cane. The harvester chops the cane up into one foot lengths, the black hood on top blows out any unwanted leaves and trash, the heavy cane drops in the cart. Notice how the burn has removed all the dry foliage and left just the cane.


US Sugar Corp cane processing and refinery.


Raw sugar being dumped into truck to be taken to huge storage sheds. Raw sugar is about 97% pure but needs to be refined for consumption. The refining is also performed here. It is finally shipped in the smallest 2 pound bags all the way up to a rail car load for commercial bakeries and candy makers like Hersey. How sweet it is!