Congress Must Put Small Businesses Before Large Sugar Interests

Small business owners have created well over half of the new jobs we lost during the last recession. It’s a testament to the vision of these job creators and their willingness to take risks.

Government can step in and support them, and we are on the right track, especially as we undo burdensome regulations. We have one more suggestion for the federal government that will help countless of New Jersey small businesses in the food industry – reform the U.S. Sugar Program.

This program determines how food manufacturers – confectioners, bakers, and other businesses that use sugar as a key ingredient – purchase sugar from U.S.-based producers. Basically, the government subsidizes our country’s sugar producers, forcing companies to buy U.S. sugar before they go to the world market where sugar is significantly cheaper.

The end result is that so many New Jersey businesses, making everything from cupcakes to crabcakes, spend more than they should on a top ingredient, while producers get guaranteed return-on-investment. Not only are small businesses and consumers paying more for foods with sugar, but taxpayers are also on the hook. Year over year, on top of price supports that inflate the price, the U.S. government buys surplus sugar, which costs taxpayers as much as $374 million.

From bagel shops, to Boardwalk taffy, we have proud confections and great baked goods. It’s time Senator Menendez and Senator Booker step up and cosponsor the Sugar Policy Modernization Act, to stand with these business owners and send a message that the federal government shouldn’t be raising costs for thousands of companies and consumers up and down the state.

Lisa Figatner

Lawrenceville, NJ