The sugar beet industry has a century long history of success in Michigan. Sugar beets were first grown in Michigan in 1839 on an experimental basis. As many as 25 processing factories were built in the early 1900s. Today, there is just one sugar company operating in Michigan, Michigan Sugar Company, headquartered in Bay City, with four operating factories in Bay City, Caro, Croswell and Sebewaing, and three warehouse terminals located in Michigan and Ohio. In 2003, Michigan farmers harvested 178,000 acres of sugarbeets grown in 16 counties in Michigan's Saginaw Valley, Thumb, Central, and South Eastern area. 

In 2003, the Michigan sugar industry produced 3.4 million tons of sugarbeets. Michigan is ranked fourth in the 12 states that produce beet sugar. The Michigan sugar industry provides $280 million of direct economic impact on the state's economy.

By-products of sugar beet processing are: beet pulp, used in animal feed and industrial molasses used in the production of yeast, citric acid, antibiotics and many other products.

Beet sugar is sucrose, a pure natural sweetener with only 15 calories per teaspoon.

For more information about the Michigan sugar industry, contact:

Michigan Sugar Company