Fascinating article by DC area beekeeper. Says more about why country of origin matter for honey than I could.
Intense sweeteners are not found just anywhere. Even if it is possible to use sugar beets or corn to make sugar, we may be doing the planet a disservice by wasting the extra resources it takes to get sugar from a beet instead of shipping it from further away. That said, honey, maple and even stevia--a herbal sugar free sweetener, can be had from suppliers economically from fairly close to DC.
EditMaple
Click here for the
Maple page
EditHoney
Click here for the
Honey page
EditImpossible to find locally grown
Sugar cane. In the United States, sugar cane is grown commercially in Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas, and Puerto Rico. Most cane sugar globally comes from Brazil and India.
EditPossibly grown locally, but no one will tell you
Corn syrup.
Sugar beets.
EditStevia
This is a herbal sweetener. Sellers officially can only call it a dietary supplement, but is is a herbal sweetener.
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