Sugar Snapshot

In the darkness, I drove on 1-80 west to Grand Island, Nebraska.? Clouds of dust from farmers driving tractors and combines wafted across the road.? The headlights on the combines cast light on the rows of corn and soybeans waiting to be harvested.? Kansas is known for its wheat and Nebraska is known for its corn.? However, did you know Nebraska is the fifth largest producer of sugar beets in the United States?? In fact, the United States is in the top five of sugar beet producing countries along with Russia, Germany, France, and Turkey.

If one stops at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island there are several artifacts on display about one of the sweetest industries.? A glowing example of a sugar beet artifact is the American Crystal Sugar Company neon sign circa 1930s.? In 1890, the Oxnard Beet Sugar Factory opened in Grand Island.? In 1934, the company changed its name to the American Crystal Sugar Company to synch with the Crystal Sugar brand.? This neon sign shone brightly until 1964 when the factory closed.?

Mounted on the wall is a beet digger used by Claus Luebbe in Grand Island.? Eyeing the large instrument I thought, “How big is a sugar beet?”? Sugar beets are a foot long and can weigh between two to five pounds.? No wonder Claus needed such a big tool to harvest sugar beets.?

Another display case held samples of sugar processed by the American Crystal Sugar Company.? The samples featured sliced beets, beet juice, burned lime, purified juice, concentrated juice, crystalized juice, table sugar, powdered sugar, molasses, beet residue, dried pulp, and molasses pulp.

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Sugar beets are able to grow in colder climates while sugar cane is grown in tropical or subtropical climates.? Sugar beets are used to make molasses, alcohol, syrups, and brown sugar.? When I went to Great Britain the “fizzy drinks” (Pop, soda, soda pop) tasted a little different since they use beet sugar instead of corn syrup as an ingredient.? Sugar cane is used to sweeten beverages.? People also use it to make jams, preserves, cake frosting and pastries.? Sugar cane caramelizes better than beet sugar.?

While enjoying all things sugary this holiday season, remember to spread “sweetness” to those around you.?