FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               CONTACT:   Phillip Hayes

Friday, April 23, 2010                                                                                                202-507-8303

ASA Statement on Quota Increase

WASHINGTON—The American Sugar Alliance issued the following statement about today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement to increase the sugar import quota.

"Today's action once again shows that the Farm Bill is operating as intended and gives the USDA the time and the tools it needs to ensure adequate supplies and operate U.S. sugar policy at no cost to taxpayers.  Over the two months leading up to this decision, domestic sugar prices had dropped by 25 percent.  Since the beginning of the fiscal year, USDA has raised its projection of year-end surplus stocks by 46 percent.”

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For more information about the American Sugar Alliance and U.S. sugar policy, visit www.sugaralliance.org