Sugar

When buying something as basic as sugar, consumers often prioritize price and convenience over considering a product's origins and production process. Yet, choices when it comes to routine, staple purchase like this impact the lives and livelihoods of farmers and workers in supply chains all over the world. Recognizing the broader consequences of these purchases is vital for promoting sustainability and fairness in sugar production.

Where is sugar grown?

Most of the world's sugar is grown in Brazil, India, Thailand, China, and the U.S. Sugar is the largest agricultural commodity in the world.

Who grows it?

In India, women play a significant role in the sugarcane industry, but they are generally excluded from training opportunities and rarely reap the economic benefits their labor helps to create. They mostly do the planting, weeding, and fertilizing, while men own and control the assets, like the land, and keep most of the income generated from the farm. In these situations, women are vulnerable to lower wages, sexual abuse, denial of land titles, and other forms of discrimination. They comprise 33% of the agricultural workforce and 48% of self-employed farmers and generate 60-80% of the production, but only 13% of sugar farms in India are owned by women. Additionally, most women are unable to unionize, as trade unions are restricted to those who possess documented land titles. 

How much are they paid for it?

In India, women's wages are typically one third that of men’s wages. In North America, sugar farmers are paid between $27-$30 per ton. Fair Trade sugar farmers are guaranteed $60 per ton, and $80 per ton for organic sugar.

How much is it sold for in the US?

Sugar is sold for between $2.05 and $4.78 per kilogram, and between $0.93 and $2.17 per pound. A mark up of over 17,500%.

Which companies in the US buy or sell Fair Trade sugar?

Alter Eco uses only Fair Trade sugar in its chocolate products.

Cocoa Camino uses 100% Fair Trade products in its cocoa.

Dean’s Beans uses its Fair Trade coffee to promote positive change in the labor force.

Equal Exchange uses Fair Trade sugar in all of its products, including coffee, chocolate, tea, cocoa, and snacks.

Wholesome Sweeteners produces natural, non-GMO, and Fair Trade-certified granulated sugar.

Ben and Jerry’s uses Fair Trade sugar in all of its products.

Honest Tea sells organic teas, lemonade, juices, and various other kids' drinks that contain only Fair Trade certified sugar.

This Bar Saves Lives makes snack bars containing Fair Trade ingredients. Every time a bar is purchased, the company donates money to a child in need.

Kashi makes plant-based products containing Fair Trade certified sugar.