Thread: Atlantic Sugar Mill Set to Close. THANKS TO CAFTA!

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=52687

Atlantic Sugar Mill Set to Close

9/6/2005 11:34:00 AM

To: National Desk

Contact: Gaston Cantens of Florida Crystals, 561-366-5100

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Atlantic Sugar Mill, located near Belle Glade, is set to close its doors and will not operate for the 2005-2006 crop.

The mill’s board of directors was forced to make the decision, because foreign sugar imports under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are forcing cutbacks in domestic productions, and Atlantic lacks sufficient cane to maintain its efficiency.

The sugar cane grown by the 17 farmers from Atlantic Sugar Mill will be processed at Florida Crystals Corporation’s two other mills, Okeelanta Sugar Mill and Osceola Sugar Mill, in western Palm Beach County.

Atlantic employees will receive severance and other benefits.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

This business the Atlantic Sugar Mill belongs to the Fanjul family who are the largest sugar producers in the United States. They are the embodiment of our corporate welfare system having received over a billon dollars in government assistance over four decades. Their contract farmers are switching to to larger mills and they are in a position to diversify to cattle, rice and campground operation.