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Dear Editor,
The recent letter from Domino Sugar's Matt Schue does contain some truth, but still does not tell the full story. It is true that I am the President of the Independent Bakers Association. Our organization represents small to medium sized bakeries and wholesalers all across the country. I've been privileged enough to work in the industry for 30 plus years, and in that time meet and work with some truly wonderful people and organizations, including Domino Sugar.
Domino Sugar, once a proud member of IBA, worked hand in hand with other refiners to end the U.S. Sugar Program. Domino Sugar enjoys a rich history in New York, its birthplace, and quickly became one of the nation's leading sugar refiners. Since 1921, Yonkers was home to one of the largest refineries and became a source of pride and wealth for the region. Unfortunately, Domino Sugar sold to the Fanjul Sugar Cartel because the U.S. Sugar Program caused the company to lose money on every pound of sugar refunded and sold in the US. The Fanjul's also closed the largest refinery, located in Brooklyn, in order to profit from the value of the prized real estate.
Many independent wholesale bakers went out of business since the 1970's like FINK, DENK, Pechter-Fields and Silver Cup. In part these jobs, like many candy jobs, are lost to Canada for cheaper commodity costs.
The politically connected Fanjul brothers, Alfie and Pepe, donate massive amounts of money to elected officials to keep this Soviet style sugar scheme in action. This same program allowed them to finally engulf Domino Sugar after their first purchasing attempt was foiled. The Fanjul brothers and their corporations are known for their abusive labor practices, whether it is child labor in the Dominican Republic or the "importation" of Jamaican workers, that has been called "modern-day slavery." To allow this corporate welfare to continue will only embolden the Fanjuls and other Sugar Cartels to further line their pockets and hurt consumers and business owners alike.
Sincerely,
Nicholas A. Pyle, President
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