Sugar Beets

So, do you know what a sugar beet looks like? Neither did we! About a month ago, we began seeing large piles of "something" at the ends of many fields we ran or walked by. We hadn't recognized the tops of the plants before harvest and so they were no help when they were harvested. I thought maybe it was a turnip, but it just seemed too large.

I ask a local and was told they were sugar carrots, and then she gave me the word in German. I checked out the dictionary and realized she meant sugar beets! She told me they were used for feed for animals as well as the production of sugar for human consumption.

Of course the next step was a Google search which provided much useful information, such as the fact that both the root and the tops are used for feed for animals (the tops mixed with the leftover pulp that is part of the sugar production), while the beet itself is used for producing sugar. Companies are currently researching whether sugar beets can be used as a renewable fuel source, like corn. Given all the sweets you find in Switzerland (think chocolate and bakery items!), it's not surprising that you find field after field piled high with sugar beets. For those of you who are truly curious, you can always check out the website, sugarbeets.com

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