As we drove through south central Florida we crossed an area know for its sugar cane (a tropical grass originally from Asia). At this time of year, it is harvest time.
The Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of South Florida is comprised of 45 small to medium-sized member farms that grow sugarcane on what is among the most fertile farmland in America, located in the Everglades. The Cooperative produces more than 350,000 tons of raw sugar annually, which once refined, is enough to serve the average annual demand of more than 9 million people.
Commercial sugarcane is planted from stalk cuttings and placed in furrows about five feet apart. After approximately 12 months, the sugarcane is ready for harvest. Growers average four harvests each season from a single planting. Harvesting season lasts from late October through mid-March. The first step in the harvesting process is the highly controlled pre-harvest burning of the cane fields. Burning causes excessive leaves to be removed, preparing the way for the mechanical harvesters and then the processing of the cane. An added benefit to this practice is that it reduces the need for applications of pesticides.
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