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THE FORAGER
chef tested hard to find and unusual products

RANCHERS / GROWERS / FARMERS

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.

Click on Images for Captions

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

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