A Season of Sweet Finishes

December brings a shift in pace for many families, but for Louisiana’s sugarcane growers and millers it marks the final push toward the end of harvest. Fields are still active, trucks are still hauling and mills are still running day and night. So far, the crop is showing sugar levels at or above the record numbers we saw in 2016. That kind of quality reflects years of experience in the field along with the skill and consistency of the people who bring this crop to completion.

While growers continue working, households across the state begin to take on their own holiday rhythm. Children look forward to Christmas break, relatives make travel plans and kitchens become the center of activity. This is a natural chance to help the younger generation understand how much of our food begins on a farm. The lesson does not have to be formal. It can start with an apron, a recipe and a simple explanation of where ingredients come from.

Real sugar is one of the easiest ways to start that conversation. It is familiar, useful and interesting ingredient for kids to see in action. A parent or grandparent can show how sugar dissolves to create the right texture in cakes and cookies. You can explain how it balances the tartness in cranberry sauce or how it helps a pecan pie set as it cools. Even a warm mug of cocoa can lead to a quick conversation about why real sugar behaves differently from artificial substitutes and why people prefer the taste of the real thing.

These small moments in the kitchen help children understand that food does not simply appear on grocery store shelves. Someone has to grow it, harvest it and prepare it for the market. When kids learn that farmers and millers are still working during the holidays to finish harvest, it gives them a clearer picture of the effort that goes into a single ingredient. They begin to appreciate that agriculture is a year-round commitment and that families all over Louisiana rely on this industry for both their livelihood and the food on their tables.

This year offers an especially strong example to share. With what looks to be a good harvest, our researchers, growers and processors are proving once again that Louisiana can deliver high quality sugar in challenging and unpredictable conditions. As we all know, success in agriculture rarely depends on one factor. It takes weather cooperation, good management and patience along with a willingness to adapt when the season requires it.

Those are the same qualities many families try to pass down during the holidays. When we teach children to measure ingredients, clean up their work area or try again when a recipe needs another attempt, we give them lessons that last far beyond December. Time together in the kitchen helps build confidence and respect for the work that goes into every meal.

As the season winds down and harvest approaches its finish in early January, we hope your homes are filled with good food and good company. From our sugarcane community to yours, we wish you a joyful Christmas and a strong end to harvest.