Big sugar targets organic market

Today, Florida Crystals of West Palm Beach is the nation's only producer of certified organic sugar — grown without herbicides or pesticides. The rest of the nation's organic sugar supply is imported from other countries. Florida Crystals grows organic cane and rice on 3,800 to 4,200 acres each year, and peak production of organic sugar has reached 3,600 tons. That's a very small percentage of its total sugar output, which has reached 900,000 tons in years not affected by hurricanes.