FLORIDA HARVEST
HIGH TECH IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA U.S. SUGAR ON CUTTING EDGE FROM FIELDS TO REFINERY TO TABLE
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Written by: Ava Grace
he U.S. Sugar facility in rural Clewiston, Florida, in Hendry County, is one of the largest vertically integrated sugarcane milling and refining operations in the world. It is among the world’s most costefficient sugar producers—likely the result of the cutting-edge technology in its sugar-making process from fields to refinery to your table. U.S. Sugar began in 1931 by a visionary hailing from a long line of farmers. Back in 1931, Florida limes and beans were harvested in abundance, but much of Florida’s crops were hand-picked because farm technology was in its infancy. These days, Florida crops such as oranges, grapefruit, squash, fresh market snap beans, fresh market tomatoes, and sugarcane, rank among the first in the nation in value production. U.S. Sugar plays a large role in this overall output. Not only does it harvest and process sugarcane, but it also grows sweet corn—more than 4 million crates every year. And it leases land to other local farmers who grow sweet corn, green beans, lettuce varieties, peanuts, squash and watermelons on more than 10,000 acres. Today, U.S. Sugar produces nearly 10 percent of domestically grown sugar. That sustainable production is mainly the result of incorporating the latest, greatest technology. “To start, we have one of the largest private Wi-Fi networks in the world,” explains Judy Sanchez, senior director of corporate communications/public affairs. That wireless network covers 270 square miles, connecting people and equipment across the operation. With more than 1,000 connections, “smart” farm equipment, farm and factory personnel can send and receive data to share crucial information in real-time—saving time, energy and costs. “Another farming hack—we use an app best described as an ‘Uber for agriculture,’ ” adds Sanchez. Harvesters and tractors send beacons that signal precisely where they’re located,
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F LO R I D A C O U NTRY A p r i l | M a y 2 0 2 1
At top, sugarcane supervisor Juan Baez Jr., one of U.S. Sugar's second-generation production supervisors, demonstrates cutting-edge harvesting technology that is similar to ridesharing apps. Above, Keith Gayle, a farm manager, confirms harvest details with farm coordinator Matilde Casas in the Area 3 office near Belle Glade, Florida.
