Washington, D.C. (April 12, 2018) – In response to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway’s release of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) released the following statement:

“For families whose livelihoods depend on the more than 600,000 American manufacturing jobs in sugar-using industries in every state across the country, the Farm Bill released today is a major disappointment. That’s because it lacks critical modernization of the U.S. sugar program, which is supported by a broad coalition of consumer, business and environmental groups and Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate. It is the only commodity subsidy program that has not been modernized in the past 80 years.

“Once again, the voices of these families have been shut out of the debate. It’s time for the family farmer AND the families that depend on manufacturing workers to be at the center of the conversation around agriculture policy in America.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher for American small businesses and manufacturing families. The sugar program forces U.S. manufacturers to pay twice as much for sugar as the rest of the world, putting American businesses at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to creating jobs. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, every sugar-processing job subsidized through artificially high U.S. sugar prices costs three American manufacturing jobs. The impact is so great, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the sugar program killed 123,000 jobs between 1997 and 2015. With their livelihoods at stake, American workers cannot afford to wait as Congress kicks the can down the road yet again.

“Yesterday, the Chairman released a video calling for modernizing the nutrition title of the Farm Bill in the name of ‘getting the policy right.’ If this Congress really wants to ‘get the policy right’ in the bill, then it’s time to modernize the U.S. sugar program. It’s time to say yes to fairness, yes to competitiveness, and yes to protecting and creating American jobs.”

The AFSP supports the Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / S. 2086), which was introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers late last year and would reform the outdated and outrageous program. The proposal would help ensure an adequate supply of sugar at reasonable prices, so there is some competition in the U.S. market – while preserving the sugar program and not risking an appropriate safety net for farmers. The bill would not abolish the program or hurt farmers. Congress can reform the U.S. sugar program this year as part of its consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Click here to view a one-minute animated video that explains the issue.

Click here to learn more about the impact of the sugar program on your state.

Click here to hear directly from small business owners and employees across the country being hurt by the sugar program.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs.

To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 4, 2018) – In a new video released today, Indiana-based Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc. CEO Tess Albanese joins the chorus of voices calling for the modernization of the U.S. sugar program. The second-generation candy maker explains why the outdated U.S. sugar program is harming her business and employees.

“Not only am I competing with unfair trade laws with places like Europe, but I’m also now having to buy ingredients that are sometimes twice as expensive,” says Albanese. “Untie my hand behind my back and let me have a fair fight.”

The current sugar program artificially raises U.S. sugar prices to nearly twice the world average, impeding American companies’ ability to invest back into their companies, workers, and communities. Albanese goes on to describe why we need to level the playing field: “so that my family can go out there and we can create jobs, and we can win on a national and international level.”

The Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / SB. 2086), introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of federal lawmakers late last year, would reform the outdated and outrageous program. The proposal creates an adequate supply of sugar based on a reasonable competitive approach that reaches from the farm to the retail shelf – without risking an appropriate safety net for farmers. Congress can reform the U.S. sugar program this year as part of its consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill, which sets government agriculture policy.

Albanese Confectionery Group, Inc. isn’t alone in calling on Congress to reform the U.S. sugar program. To hear what others are saying, watch the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy’s new video series.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs. To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 4, 2018) – In a new video released today, Hawaiian Host Inc. CEO, Keith Sakamoto, joins the chorus of voices calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. With manufacturing facilities in both Los Angeles and Honolulu, the manufacturer of popular brand-name confections explains why the outdated U.S. sugar program is harming his business and employees.

“It makes it very difficult and unfair for us in the international arena,” says Sakamoto speaking to the competitive disadvantage imposed by the U.S. sugar program. “It’s also about the broader economic impact that we have with our vendors and our customers and the jobs that those will create as well.”

Sakamoto explains that in addition to their 500 employees, Hawaiian Host Inc.’s reach expands to their vendors. “We buy materials and ingredients in terms of chocolate, butter, packaging materials, and they employ a lot of people as well.” To be able to compete, he says, “Let’s reform the sugar program so that we can level the playing field for U.S. companies like us.”

The Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / SB. 2086), introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of federal lawmakers late last year, would reform the outdated and outrageous program. The proposal creates an adequate supply of sugar based on a reasonable competitive approach that reaches from the farm to the retail shelf – without risking an appropriate safety net for farmers. Congress can reform the U.S. sugar program this year as part of its consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill, which sets government agriculture policy.

Hawaiian Host Inc. isn’t alone in calling on Congress to reform the U.S. sugar program. To hear what others are saying, watch the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy’s new video series.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs. To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 4, 2018) – In a new video released today, Texas-based manufacturer Atkinson Candy Company joins the chorus of voices calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. Employees and leaders from the company discuss how the sugar program, which forces U.S.-based manufacturers to pay double for the price of sugar, affects their livelihood and puts American companies at a competitive disadvantage.

Workers at the family-owned company in Lufkin, Texas expressed the importance of their workplace to their families and communities. Denise, an 11-year packaging employee, said, “It’s very important to have the factory. We have family, and we have to take care of them.”

Atkinson Candy employs more than 200 people in the area, bringing vital economic support to the community. “We can at least keep the businesses open so that we can have employees and keep the business going,” notes Joshua, an operations employee. “We can make Lufkin grow. We can make Atkinson grow.”

The Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / SB. 2086), introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of federal lawmakers late last year, would reform the outdated and outrageous program. The proposal creates an adequate supply of sugar based on a reasonable competitive approach that reaches from the farm to the retail shelf – without risking an appropriate safety net for farmers. Congress can reform the U.S. sugar program this year as part of its consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill, which sets government agriculture policy.

Atkinson Candy isn’t alone in calling on Congress to reform the U.S. sugar program. To hear what others are saying, watch the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy’s new video series.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs. To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 4, 2018) – In a new video released today, Ohio-based Spangler Candy Company CEO, Kirk Vashaw, joins the chorus of voices calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. The maker of the world-famous Dum Dums explains why the outdated U.S. sugar program is harming his business and employees.

“I don’t have to tell you that it’s not all sweet moments as a candy maker these days,” says Vashaw. “As Americans and candy makers, we are all paying a steep price for keeping this outdated sugar subsidy program.”

Vashaw goes on to explain how the program impacts his operations at Spangler: “Today, we have about 250 people making candy for us in Mexico. In 2017, Spangler had 900 people apply for jobs at our Ohio factory. I would love to offer 250 of them a job as a candy cane maker, but our government insists that sugar processing jobs are more important than manufacturing jobs. They are picking winners and losers, and our town has been the loser for many years now.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that for every sugar-growing job saved through high U.S. sugar prices, approximately three American manufacturing jobs are lost.

The Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / SB. 2086), introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of federal lawmakers late last year, would reform the outdated and outrageous program. The proposal creates an adequate supply of sugar based on a reasonable competitive approach that reaches from the farm to the retail shelf – without risking an appropriate safety net for farmers. Congress can reform the U.S. sugar program this year as part of its consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill, which sets government agriculture policy.

Spangler Candy Company isn’t alone in calling on Congress to reform the U.S. sugar program. To hear what others are saying, watch the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy’s new video series.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs. To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 4, 2018) – In a new video released today, Baltimore-based Goetze’s Candy Company CEO Mitchell Goetze joins the chorus of voices calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. The head of the 122-year-old company explains how the outdated U.S. sugar program is harming his business and employees.

“We are one of few food manufacturers left in Baltimore,” Goetze notes. “We feel like we are being forced to pay a price that other confectionary companies that aren’t under the same program don’t have to pay.”

Goetze goes on to urge Congress to take action. “We need to take the politics out of this. It needs to be common sense. The numbers speak volumes. Congress, the time is now to act. Small family businesses and other U.S. manufacturers can’t hold on too much longer.”

The Sugar Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 4265 / SB. 2086), introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of federal lawmakers late last year, would reform the outdated and outrageous program. The proposal creates an adequate supply of sugar based on a reasonable competitive approach that reaches from the farm to the retail shelf – without risking an appropriate safety net for farmers. Congress can reform the U.S. sugar program this year as part of its consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill, which sets government agriculture policy.

Goetze’s Candy Company isn’t alone in calling on Congress to reform the U.S. sugar program. To hear what others are saying, watch the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy’s new video series.

The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs. To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.