the sugar association

March 11, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representing sugar beet and cane growers, processors and refiners throughout the United States, the Sugar Association is proud to support The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) as it hosts National Agriculture Day on March 14, 2019. This will mark the 46th anniversary of National Ag Day which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country.

The theme for National Ag Day 2019 is “Agriculture: Food for Life.”

“The ACA’s efforts to connect American consumers to agriculture is vitally important and we are honored to be a part of the Ag Day events. Every day, our farmers plant, harvest, and care for sugar beets and sugar cane and the land they’re grown on, to bring us an ingredient that plays so many important roles in our food supply,” said Sugar Association President and CEO Courtney Gaine, RD, PhD. “Many of these sugar beet and sugar cane farms have been passed down for several generations, making sugar growing an important family legacy that we want to keep around for generations to come.”

The sugar industry has long played an important role in America’s agricultural story. Sugar cane was introduced to the U.S. in 1751 in Louisiana, and sugar beets were first planted near Philadelphia in 1836.

America’s sugar producers support more than 142,000 jobs in 22 states. And, 11,000 family farmers grow sugar on 2 million acres.

National Ag Day recognizes and celebrates the abundance provided by American agriculture. Every spring, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and others across the country join together in recognition—and appreciation—of agriculture in our country.

To learn more about National Ag Day, visit AgDay.org.

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The Sugar Association, founded in 1943, is the scientific voice of the U.S. sugar industry. The association is committed to making a difference by continuously supporting scientific research and sharing its knowledge that there’s more to sugar by increasing consumer understanding of and confidence in the role that sugar plays in a nutritious, balanced and enjoyable diet. The Sugar Association represents nearly 12,000 beet and cane sugar growers, as well as processors and refiners of sugar. The U.S. sugar industry generates 142,000 jobs in 22 states and contributes $20 billion to the economy annually. For more information, visit www.sugar.org, follow us on Twitter, and connect with us on Facebook.

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