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Sugar beet growers have hit a snag in trying to buy sugar
refining plants in Woodland and Tracy.
The current owner, Imperial Sugar Co., is refusing to run the
factories another year as part of the deal.
During nearly two months of negotiations, Imperial Sugar Co.
has held fast to its plan to close the two plants by the end of
this year unless the beet growers step in to buy the properties,
according to Ben Goodwin, executive manager of the California Beet
Growers Association.
If the plants close, it could spell the end of the sugar beet
industry in Northern California, including 650 jobs at the two
processing plants.
A representative of those workers said Wednesday he's hopeful
the purchase will occur. "Bottom line, we're still holding
our faith that this deal will go through," said Henry
Williams, president of Local 179 of the United Food and Commercial
Workers Union.
The possible purchase has been complicated by a deadline many
growers face for planting sugar beets to be harvested next spring.
Without some guarantee the factories will be operating a year from
now, the growers will choose another, less profitable crop such as
alfalfa or safflower.
Goodwin says it will be difficult for the growers to reach
agreement on a sale of this magnitude before the planting
deadline.
More than 200 beet growers ship their crop to the plants in
Woodland and Tracy. The farmers last year grew sugar beets valued
at nearly $90 million.
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