Hawaiian Sugar Company

The American Sugar Alliance held their national convention in Coeur d’Alene Resort last week and an important visitor was May Nakahata of the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company. Nakahata says market competition and relentless public pressure are the main reasons that, after 140 years of operation, HC&S will no longer grow sugar cane. “ Part of it is foreign competition which is why we got a trade assistance for our workers as they try and find other jobs because it basically was the pricing out of Mexico and so forth. But we also have public pressure. You have activists who don't really understand agriculture and who put demands on agriculture as if it were a factory in which you can control everything. But it is not. And so, as you find yourself caught in activism and lawsuits and so forth it became very difficult. Cane burning was a huge issue.” From Texas to California, the delegation is exploring many crops along with irrigation systems which are needed to develop the new agriculture of the islands. “We started off in Texas, went to Utah, came into Idaho, heading off to Oregon where we are going to see industrial hemp which we have a lot of pressure to look into growing. Some believe that is going to be our Savior and then on to California.” Farmers helping farmers. It's the American farmer’s way of life. “We knew there were some operations here so I had to ask Russ from Idaho Farm Bureau to help me out and he has been great with the contacts. He got us in touch with farmers and actually took us around so we really appreciate it. Farmers helping farmers. That’s right. And that is what is great about Farm Bureau. It is like you have a family across the whole country. You call and ask somebody and they always lived a helping hand so we are very thankful.”