FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               CONTACT:   Phillip Hayes

Tuesday, August 3, 2010                                                                                202-271-5734 (cell)

From the International Sweetener Symposium:

Strong Sugar, Trade Policies Essential to Rural Economies

VAIL, Colo.—With 146,000 jobs and $10 billion in economic activity, the sugar industry’s importance to rural America is apparent.  And Congress should make sure that this economic engine continues to hum, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), said during a videoconference today at the 27^th International Sweetener Symposium.

Maintaining a strong sugar policy and trade policies that “stop trading away our agricultural interests” are key to the industry’s continued success.

Crapo, who is co-chair of the Senate Sweetener Caucus, said sugar is in an enviable position headed into the 2012 Farm Bill debate.

“The sugar program is working,” he said, noting strong bipartisan support in Congress.

“We will face serious budget limitations,” Crapo said about the Farm Bill debate.  “Sugar policy’s emphasis on operating at no cost should help ward off harmful change.”

During the last Farm Bill, large food manufacturers suggested scrapping no-cost sugar policy in favor of taxpayer funded subsidies estimated to cost $1.3 billion a year.  Given the current budget atmosphere this alternative is not expected to gain any traction in the upcoming debate.

In addition to sugar policy, Crapo explained that fair trade policies that help sugar producers are also needed.  He said that he will continue to seek “just treatment for sugar in the WTO.”

“Continued focus on a balanced Doha [WTO negotiation] is imperative,” he added.  Sugar and most other farm organizations have been critical of current WTO talks, which would make deep cuts to the farm safety net without providing sufficient new market opportunities for U.S. growers abroad.

-0-

For more information about the International Sweetener Symposium, visit www.sugaralliance.org

Symposium audio files can be downloaded at www.ASAradio.org