U.S. Sugar, Florida Crystals and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative Honored for Environmental Stewardship

U.S. Sugar, Florida Crystals and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida received Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s This Farm CARES award, recognizing their commitment to protecting Florida’s natural resources. The three organizations are the first in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) to receive the designation.

The recognition celebrates the work of South Florida sugarcane farmers whose conservation practices help improve water quality while producing food for American families.

“Florida’s farmers demonstrate every day that producing our food and protecting our natural resources go hand in hand,” said Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith. “U.S. Sugar, Florida Crystals and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative exemplify the commitment to environmental stewardship that This Farm CARES was created to recognize. Their continued investment in conservation delivers measurable results for Florida.”

Established in 2001, CARES stands for County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship. The program recognizes farmers and ranchers who demonstrate exemplary efforts to conserve Florida’s natural resources, including through the implementation of agricultural best management practices. Recipients receive a distinctive This Farm CARES sign to help share their conservation commitment with the public.

The awards come as EAA farmers continue to exceed phosphorus reduction requirements. According to the South Florida Water Management District, the EAA Basin achieved a 65% reduction in total phosphorus loads in Water Year 2026, compared with the historic baseline used to measure the program’s performance. That result is more than two and a half times the 25% reduction required under the Everglades Forever Act.

The district reports that the EAA program has met its performance requirements every year since the initial determination in Water Year 1996, with a long-term average phosphorus reduction of 57%.

For those of us who farm in the Everglades Agricultural Area, taking care of our land and water is something we work on every day,” said Keith Wedgworth, president of Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau. “Our farmers have made significant investments over the years to improve water quality and reduce phosphorus leaving our farms. These awards recognize that hard work and commitment, and the results show that what we are doing is making a difference for our farms, our communities and the Everglades.

“U.S. Sugar farmers understand that farming responsibly to protect Florida’s natural resources go hand in hand with delivering quality food for Americans,” said Kenneth W. McDuffie, president and CEO of U.S. Sugar. “We are proud to receive Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s This Farm CARES award alongside our fellow sugarcane growers. This recognition reinforces our commitment to our people, our communities and the natural resources that will sustain future generations.”

“As a family-owned agricultural company in South Florida, protecting our land, water and natural resources is important to us for the future of our farms, homegrown food supply and the thousands of quality jobs local families rely on,” said Pepe Fanjul, Jr., Co-President of Florida Crystals Corporation. “We appreciate the Florida Farm Bureau Federation for recognizing our Everglades Agricultural Area farming community’s achievements in environmental conservation and our shared commitment to Everglades restoration.”

“Thank you to the Florida Farm Bureau Federation for recognizing Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida as a recipient of the This Farm CARES award,” said Matthew Hoffman, president and CEO of Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. “This recognition reflects our commitment to responsible farming practices and protecting the natural resources that sustain our farms and communities. We are proud to work alongside our fellow sugarcane growers to preserve Florida’s natural resources for future generations.”

Agricultural best management practices focus on managing nutrients, water and sediment to reduce the amount of phosphorus leaving farmland. These practices are a key part of the region’s broader efforts to improve water quality and protect the Everglades.

Through the This Farm CARES recognition, Florida Farm Bureau is helping share the story of the people and practices behind those results and the role working farms play in conserving Florida’s natural resources.