Overview

• The Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative has started decommissioning its Brawley facility, with operations expected to phase out by late 2025 or early 2026.
• The cooperative will consolidate sugar production at its Renville, Minnesota plant after determining the Brawley site is no longer financially viable.
• Imperial County officials say the shutdown will cost roughly 700 jobs and erase a $243 million local industry.
• Once the factory closes, strict federal rules prevent Imperial Valley beets from being processed elsewhere, effectively ending sugar beet farming in California.
• Company leaders cite falling sugar prices, rising operating costs, and a decades‑long contraction that has seen 28 U.S. beet and cane factories close since 2000.