Keep the no-cost U.S. sugar policy

Re “Too sweet a deal,” editorial, April 30

U.S. food conglomerates pay 35% less for sugar today than in 1980, yet the price of candies and cakes have skyrocketed by more than 50% over that time.

And despite the fact that American grocery shoppers and U.S. food companies in other developed countries pay a lot more for sugar than their U.S. counterparts, these corporate profiteers want more.

They are lobbying Congress to replace the current no-cost sugar policy with one that would cost taxpayers $1.3 billion a year. But don’t think for a second that would lead to cheaper food prices -- we’ve already seen that food prices rise even when sugar prices fall.

In response to the sugar policy buyout option mentioned in the editorial, I’d simply point out that U.S. food manufacturers are among the biggest opponents of that proposal.

That’s because without U.S. sugar farmers growing this essential ingredient, manufacturers would have to depend on unreliable foreign sugar that has numerous quality problems.

CURT RUTHERFORD

President

California Beet

Growers Assn.

Brawley, Calif.