How does a Sugarbeet Turn into the Sugar We Use?

Sugarbeet harvest is a welcome sight in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Michigan. While a common sight to some, many are removed from the process of sugarbeets traveling from the farm to the grocery store. Sugarbeets produce one of the highest amounts of sugar per plant at around 18%. They are a pale-colored root crop that can weigh up to 5 pounds. Harvest begins mid-fall and requires specialized equipment.

After harvest, they’re weighed and tested and then washed. The sugar is diffused from the plant via hot water, which then goes on to be filtered and purified. The sugarbeet juice is then heated, with dark syrup left behind where a centrifuge process separates the sugar crystals, resulting in 99% pure sugar.

Read more on sugarbeet harvest and processing here.