In Singapore, you can find refreshing cold sugarcane juice at the local markets. The juice is made from extracting sap directly from sugarcane stalks, without using additives. Sugarcane is not a fruit, but it is actually a type of grass that looks like bamboo.
Each mug of fresh sugarcane juice costs $1 to $1.50 (less than an American dollar), and if you want a more exciting taste, hawkers will throw in a prune or lemon for an extra zing. Enjoy!
Global business
The journey of sugarcane begins at plantations around the world and eventually reaches the hawker stalls in Singapore.
Singapore mostly imports sugarcane from Malaysia, with millions of dollars’ worth arriving every year. Malaysia itself receives shipments from China and Italy. China is one of the largest sugarcane growers in the world and sources some of its own stock from Myanmar and Laos.
Italy, on the other hand, gets most of its sugarcane from Colombia, which has been a major producer since the 16th century when the Spaniards introduced it as a cash crop.
To summarise, the pathway into Singapore looks something like this:
Singapore
⇑
Malaysia ⇐ China ⇐ Myanmar & Laos
⇑
Italy ⇐ Columbia & China
Sugarcane has long been cultivated for its sweet juice and production of sugar. However, in recent years, sugarcane has also gained recognition as a valuable source of “green energy” called “sugarcane ethanol” which is considered to be a renewable and sustainable energy source.
However, the use of sugarcane as a source of green energy also has implications for the food sector. As sugarcane is diverted towards energy production, there may be concerns about the impact on food security and prices. Balancing the demand for sugarcane as a food crop and as an energy crop is an ongoing challenge that needs to be carefully managed.
*Trade data is from 2013 and derived from this brilliant visualization tool: http://atlas.media.mit.edu/
Shopkeeper Stories is a photographic documentary of small business owners and their trades around the world, sharing insights, stories and views. You can see all the posts on Facebook and Instagram @ShopkeeperStories
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