Sugar Cane Production

Sugar is the world's largest crop and the second most important crop in Mexico, after corn.  In 2010-2011, about 44 million metric tons of cane were produced into 5.2 million metric tons of sugar in the country's 50 sugar mills.  Mexico is the world's 6th largest exporter of sugar and the main supplier to the United States.  The mills vary in size, many being small, old and inefficient but there are also large and modern ones in Guadalajara.  Evidences of all aspects of sugar cane production can be seen, both currently and historically, when driving through this part of Jalisco. 

Step #1 - Sugar cane reaches maturity

Step #2 - Cane fields are burned to remove the leaves and make it easier to harvest the sugar-filled stems.  

Step #3 - Stems are chopped down, leaving the roots to re-harvest.  

Step #4 - Harvest time is during the dry season:  late October to June.

Step #5 - Stems are cut into metre-long lengths for transportation.

Step #6 - The roads are filled with heavily loaded cane trucks headed to the mills.  

Step #7 - The countryside in this area is dotted with the chimneys of old mills.  El Trapiche, meaning sugar cane mill, is significant to our family because it was the name of the apartment complex where we lived in Caracas.  (There was a chimney in the courtyard).