In 2019-20, Michigan Sugar harvested over four million tons of sugar beets and produced over one billion pounds of sugar. Founded in 1906, Michigan Sugar is a grower-owned cooperative of sugar beet farmers headquartered in Bay City and is the parent company of Pioneer Sugar and Big Chief Sugar. For much of its history, Michigan Sugar used Mexican migrant labor extensively to harvest sugar beets which had the added effect of bringing Mexican food culture to Michigan further enriching the state’s gastronomic diversity.
