WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2018) – In a new video released today, Washington-based Brown & Haley CEO, Pierson Clair, joins the chorus of voices calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. The 105-year-old candy maker and distributor explains why the outdated U.S. sugar program is harming his business and employees.

The current sugar program artificially raises U.S. sugar prices to nearly twice the world average. “If I didn’t have to pay for domestic sugar, I would be investing in more equipment, I’d be hiring more people,” says Clair in this new video.

Today, American companies are at a competitive disadvantage. 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.

As Clair explains, “The system does not allow for the typical kind of growth that would normally happen in the economy of the United States because the system is fundamentally broken. And, its broken by legislation so you can’t repair it, unless Congress comes to a moment in time that says ‘It’s time to end this 90-year-old system that makes no sense anymore.'”

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4265 / SB. 2086), introduced by a bicameral, bipartisan group of federal lawmakers late last year, would reform the outdated and outrageous program.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.

Brown & Haley 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The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program.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.

If you are interested in using any of the video(s), please reach out to info@FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2018) – In a new group of videos released today, California-based manufacturers Adams & Brooks, Inc. and Sconza Chocolates join the chorus of voices calling for reform of the U.S. sugar program. Both employees and leaders from these companies 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.

“Anything you buy in the U.S. made with sugar, you are paying an unnecessarily high price for,” notes the Chief Operating Officer of San Bernardino-based Adams & Brooks, John Brooks, Jr. “One way to look at this policy is that it’s a tax on consumers. And why? So that a small well-connected segment of our population and our economy can have what is essentially a riskless business venture.”

Workers at the Oakdale-based Sconza Chocolates expressed the importance of their workplace to their families and communities. Eddie, a Sconza Chocolates operations employee, said, “I think it’s very important that for a small town, a small community like the one we have here, that they have a production plant like this where people can come in and have a career, grow inside that career, and have a future.”

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.

Adams & Brooks and Sconza Chocolates aren’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.

If you are interested in using any of the video(s), please reach out to info@FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

ATLANTA, G.A. (March 28, 2018) – The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) today released the following statement supporting the adoption of Georgia Senate Resolution 1115, which urges Congress, particularly the Georgia Congressional delegation, to support commonsense reforms to the outdated U.S. sugar program. Sponsored by State Senator John Wilkinson, the resolution cites the sugar program’s adverse impact on both the state and national economies.

“Georgia lawmakers know firsthand the adverse effect the U.S. sugar program has on its small businesses, food manufacturers, and consumers. This outdated and outrageous program negatively impacts more than 16,000 jobs across 289 small, family-owned businesses and other manufacturers in Georgia alone, and benefits only a handful of sugar mega-processors.

“The sugar program is a complicated and bureaucratic mess of price supports, market allocations, quotas, and government guarantees that are ultimately covered by taxpayer dollars. It is the only commodity subsidy program that has not been modernized in the past 80 years. It forces 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.

“The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that for every sugar-processing job subsidized through artificially high U.S. sugar prices, America loses three manufacturing jobs. Overall, the sugar program has killed 123,000 jobs between 1997 and 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“As the debate around federal farm policy heats up in Washington, we support this call for federal lawmakers to protect Georgia small businesses and consumers and pass sensible reforms to 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.

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

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

 

 

Washington, D.C. (March 28, 2018) – In a letter to the lead sponsors of the Sugar Policy Modernization Act in the House and Senate, 10 leading environmental organizations expressed support for the bill to restore balance to the Everglades.

Signers of the letter include Bullsugar, the Center for Biological Diversity, Everglades Trust, Florida Defenders of the Environment, Florida Wildlife Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, Reef Relief, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, Sierra Club and Sierra Club Broward Group.

The groups wrote to Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Danny Davis (D-IL). Click here for the full text of the letter. Excerpts from the letter follow:

“… While there are certainly other factors at play, mass production of sugarcane in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) south of Lake Okeechobee remains a great impediment to efforts by the federal and state agencies to restore the Everglades through implementation of the congressionally authorized Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Working around sugar interests has come at a much greater expense both of time and taxpayers’ money.

“We are not advocating for the removal of sugarcane in the EAA. Rather, we ask that balance be restored to give the Everglades and our coastal estuaries a fighting chance. This [Sugar Policy Modernization Act] provides that balance.

“… The Act will not repeal the sugar price support program or quota limits on foreign sugar entering the United States. Rather, it will loosen the very tight controls on sugar production. This long-awaited legislation will make the federal sugar program more oriented to the free market and in line with the type of fair competition we expect of other industries. It will reduce the taxpayer-funded political influence currently harming government and public interests.

“We join the growing number of stakeholders in urging your colleagues to take action against the longstanding advantage offered to the sugar industry by supporting the Sugar Policy Modernization Act of 2017, amending the 2018 Farm Bill.”

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.

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

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

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28, 2018) – In a new video released today, Pennsylvania-based R.M. Palmer Company CEO, Mark Schlott, joins the chorus of voices calling for the modernization of the U.S. sugar program. The head of the 70-year-old company explains why the outdated U.S. sugar program is harming his business and employees.

“Sugar subsidies must go. We cannot compete against foreign confectioners when we’re at a 40% disadvantage when it comes to sugar,” says Schlott. “We need that to go away so we have room to grow not only from an equipment standpoint but also to reinvest in our employees.”

Today, American companies are at a competitive disadvantage. 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. As Schlott explains, for companies “to remain in business, and moving forward, we really need to stop this unfair practice.”

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.

R.M. Palmer 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.

If you are interested in using any of the video(s), please reach out to info@FairSugarPolicy.org.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28, 2018) – In a new group of videos released today, New York-based manufacturers Ford Gum & Machine Company, Inc. and Madelaine Chocolate Company join the chorus of voices calling for the modernization of the U.S. sugar program. Both employees and leaders from these companies 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.

“We’re the only gum ball manufacturer left in the United States, because all of my competitors have fled either up to Canada or down to Mexico where they can take advantage of world sugar and not have to pay the excessive sugar price that U.S. manufacturers are forced to pay,” says George Stege, president of Ford Gum & Machine Co. “The time for change is long past; the time for change is now.”

In separate videos, workers at Ford Gum, as well as Rockaway Beach, New York’s family-owned and operated Madelaine Chocolate Company, both expressed the importance of their respective workplace to their families and communities. Manny, a 21-year employee of Madelaine Chocolate, called the company a “second home” and said, “This is the job that gave me the opportunity to continue life with my family, [and] support my family.”

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.

Ford Gum and Madelaine Chocolate aren’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.

If you are interested in using any of the video(s), please reach out to info@FairSugarPolicy.org.