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FARMER
Felipe Victory Ortuño grows organic, unrefined sugar in the Turrialba Valley of Costa Rica
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"Growing organic sugar cane is the only way a farmer can sustain the soil and stay in business..."
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FOOD FACTS
Unrefined Sugar contains no preservatives or additives. Unrefined Sugar is darker in color because it has no additives, it contains only cane sap.
A stalk of Sugar Cane grows about one foot per year. Cane grows to about 12 feet high when it is harvested. It takes two tons of raw cane to produce 50 pounds of sugar.
Sugar Cane is harvested year-round in Costa Rica.
HEALTH & SCIENCE
Organic, unrefined sugar has been proven to be higher in vitamins and minerals than refined sugar. Some scientists say unrefined sugar does not cause hypertension, diabetes or heart disease.
SUSTAINABILITY
Other crops, like beans, are planted between the rows of sugar cane at Felipe's farm. The beans put nitrogen into the soil, naturally enhancing productivity.
Bagasse, the cane fibers that are leftover after the cane stalks are crushed, are put back into the soil as compost. Power is generated by burning the begasse, powering the factory and nearby villages at no cost.
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"Growing cane conventional depletes the soil and renders it useless after only a few years...we couldn't sustain our farm, the land, or the community that way."
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THE HARVEST
All of the sugar cane on Felipe's farm is harvested by hand and Oxen power is used in the planting.
FOOD HISTORY
Sugar was traded as the basic currency in Costa Rica and many other parts of the world.
VOCABULARY
UNREFINED: Sugar that is un-processed and without additives. Unrefined Sugar contains only the sap from sugar cane.
ORGANIC: Food that is cultivated without the use of chemicals of any sort including fertilizers, insecticides, artificial coloring or flavoring.
SUCCANAT: Sugar Cane Naturally.
WHERE TO FIND IT
Billingtons / Wholesome Sweeteners
wholesomesweeteners.com
FARM
Turrialba, Costa Rica
AsSukkar Farm
organicsugar.com
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CHEF
Chef Karen DeMasco of CRAFT Restaurant in New York City
Karen was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for "Best Pastry Chef" in 2005.
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"My approach is to take the best seasonal ingredients and do very little to them" |
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DISH 1
Gooey Organic Brown Sugar Cakes
RECIPE (pdf) >>
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"Sugar is something I always took for granted, but not anymore... I've realized that sugar can star as an ingredient."
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DISH 2
Sucanat Candied Macadamia Nuts
RECIPE (pdf) >>
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"Getting these great products from small family farms creates a sense of community that makes me feel a part of something so much bigger."
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RESTAURANTS
New York, New York
CRAFT Restaurant
212.780.0880
craftrestaurant.com
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