Currently, 27,000 people are employed by the sugar cane industry in Louisiana. Sugar cane is produced in 40 percent of the state´s parishes on nearly 600,000 acres of land. The economic impact of CAFTA and other bi-lateral trade agreements on the state will be disastrous. Louisiana stands to lose $750 million in direct sugar sales, as well as $2 billion in industry-related revenue each year.
DR–CAFTA Yes, Sugar No: "In 2003, sugar farmers and processors earned an estimated $5.7 billion in sales but employed only about 52,000 workers."
And for every single one of those workers we have 576 Americans (297,000,000 ÷ 52,000) who have to pay too much for sugar to support these people.. Hedge, if you happen to be or personally know one of those underachieving 52,000 workers, please let me say on behalf of my fellow 576 that it's time for him or her to get a real job like the rest of us.