By
Laura Madonna
Squeeze
Dried might not sound like the natural process
yielding Certified Organic Sugar but following the
sugar cane harvest, that's essentially the technique.
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This
differs from refined white sugar processing with
its decoloration and chemical treatments, making
organic sugar worth its price differential of about
$I.50 per pound. Conscious environmental land stewardship
also contributes to the cost of processing organic
sugar.
"Organic
sugar is new in America 'says Jorge Dominicis, vice
president of Florida Crystals Corporation, the company
that milled the first certified organic sugar in
the United States in I997 and is the only American-made
certified organic sugar available. "It simply
wasn't done just a few years ago."
Organic
sugar is produced without chemicals or additives
from organically grown sugar cane grown without
pesticides. It's a pale, golden colored granular
sugar that tastes. . . well, sweet. It has a pleasant
aroma, something lacking in refined white sugar.
"Taste
is also enhanced because more of the natural molasses
is retained through the milling process, says Marlon
Sequeira, organic program manager in charge of processing
at Florida Crystals.
People
concerned with eating natural food have created
more demand for organic sugar. Global organic sugar
sales are around 50,000 tons annually, which is
up from 20,000 tons five years ago. According to
the Organic Trade Association, projections to 2002
show strong growth in grain snack, candy, breakfast
cereal and frozen foods as categories requiring
organic sweetener ingredients.
But
the savvy cook or consumer can easily use organic
sugar in place of refined sugar in just about every
recipe. New scientific measurements have reduced
sugar's calorie count to 15 calories per teaspoon
and because sucrose (sugar) is a carbohydrate, it
has no fat. However, Evelyn Brewster of The Sugar
Association reminds us that, "there is no nutritional
difference between organic sugar and non-organic
processed sugar."
Some
Definitions
Non-organic, natural
sugars with no additives or preservatives are available
in 36 America's supermarkets and health food stores.
The word natural causes confusion because it does
not mean organic, or certified organic.
Natural
sugar, milled or cane, may be natural because it
was processed without preservatives. This says nothing
of the sugar cane or sugar beet from which it came.
It's important for consumers and chefs to read the
label. A hint look at the price.
Harvest
Naturally
Gentler processing,
certified organic sugar cane and environmental stewardship
are the hallmarks of certified organic sugar. Harvest
time is its soul.
Sugarcane
grows in the USA in four states: Florida, Hawaii,
Louisiana and Texas. Florida Crystals Corporation
describes its certified organic sugar harvest and
processing techniques.
The
cane is harvested in Florida, October through March
by cutting it at root Ievel, then the stalks are
taken to the mill. Milling takes place same day
as harvest. Mill tandems press the natural juice
from the stalk while the remaining fiber is recycled
to use as renewable energy. The pressed juice is
ultra filtered without the use of chemicals to remove
any impurities including bacteria.
Next
the clean juice gets heated with steam to evaporate
the water leaving concentrated syrup. It is then
crystallized by "seeding" with small organic
sugar crystals and boiled in a "vacuum pan
that makes a larger crystal mix of sugar and molasses.
The molasses can then be separated out through spinning
and finally the sugar crystals are cooled and dried
then packaged. Voila.
The
difference in processing refined white sugar found
on your store shelf lies in the use of chemicals
additives and decoloration as well as non-organic
farming methods. For example the pressed juice is
clarified by adding milk of lime and carbon dioxide;
bulk raw sugar is typically saved stored and transported
by box-car to a refinery for further processing;
and carbon filters remove all natural remaining
color.
So
next time you reach for the sugar bowl think about
where those sweet crystals came from. Then replace
the lid If it's not certified organic sugar in there,
you know it has been through the mill...and plant...and
box-car
Other
Great Links:
Kinds
of Sugar
Refined
Sugar Processing Steps
Florida Crystals - http://www.floridacrystals.com