WHY are we allowing sugar cane production to be shut down in Florida? Brazil has weaned themselves off of oil dependency through biofuel developed from sugar cane; it is far superior to corn for biofuel. Biofuel is sustainable and is one of the multipronged efforts that we should fully develop in order to get our energy costs under control.
This smells of a big oil play to push for off-shore drilling under the guise of being environmentally friendly.
signed
A conservative patriot and good steward of our environment

Coastal homeowners and the coal industry take note. US Sugar probably decided that this was a good time to get out because sea level rise would likely have forced them out of business anyway within a few decades. Now we must halt global warming, so that this and many other expensive investments will not have been in vain.

I think of this as an early example of "The Great Retreat" - humanity cleaning up our messes and returning the land we have "borrowed", back to mother nature. I hope we have the wisdom to keep gracefully retreating like this by returning overdeveloped land back to its original state.

A century from now, if we end up maintaining only half or a quarter of our current footprint, we would have proven ourselves wise and worthy stewards of the planet!

Firstly, I consider myself a good steward of our environment as well, which is why I wholly support this purchase - it only saddens me that there was not enough public interest to save the Babcock Ranch (and countless other sensitive habitats) from developers. And there are still plenty of sugar companies in Florida!

Secondly, I don't think buying our goods from overseas is such a good idea, do you? Florida sugar has a bad rep, but it is worth noting that companies like Florida Crystals have done a great deal for sustainability; for instance, they regularly rotate crops, grow organic and have created a renewable energy power plant that extracts energy from the cane stalk. Furthermore, Florida Crystals is working to convert more than 100,000 acres of farmland to filter marshes as part of their participation in the Everglades Forever Act.

Still want to buy Brazilian? I don't mean to sound like a paid lobbyist - I am merely a concerned consumer and long time Florida resident. To that end, I welcome more information and other aspects of this story, as there are likely a great many factors. For instance, one of my coworkers pointed out that the timing of this deal appears to suspiciously coincide with the layoff of thousands of teachers statewide.

Lastly, I am a bit leery of extracting biofuel from food sources - I wonder if there was a way to extract our energy from the exotic invasive plants that do their part to wreak havoc on the hydrology of FL? Imagine it, dumping Brazilian Pepper or Melaleuca in your tank! What an idyllic paradise!

Bravo, t4mk4t. I personally buy organic sugar grown in Florida. I personally believe that we must protect the Everglades and all rivers and streams. And I personally believe that it can be done and we can as individuals make choices that state that we DEMAND products that do not create issues in our own "nest". Whatever the factors regarding the return of the property in the Everglades if it is kept in the forefront of our conversations and minds and if we all make conscience choices when it is "necessary" to purchase something change will come.