While autumn is the traditional sugarbeet harvest time in the other 10 states where they are grown, here in the Imperial Valley of Southeastern California we are just beginning to plant the 2017 crop! 

Our mild desert climate lets us plant now and grow over winter. Because of our hot temperatures during harvest in spring and summer, we do not pile beets in the field prior to processing as other states do. Rather, our Spreckels Sugar factory fires up in April when harvest begins and runs 24/7 until late July. 

Though we grow the same crop in California as do our friends in North Dakota, we all make individual adjustments according to our climate, soil, water and processing conditions.

In Southeastern California, we are in a totally opposite growing season from our sugarbeet-grower friends in other areas. While they are currently harvesting in full gear, we are getting ready to plant next year’s crop! Today, the lister is making beds and injecting UN32 nitrogen fertilizer into the soil in preparation for next week’s planting. This tractor is equipped with GPS, making for precisely straight rows – no more guesswork!
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