The Fanjul family began sugar farming and production in Cuba more than 150 years ago. After Fidel Castro’s communist takeover of Cuba, the family migrated to America. Alfy Fanjul played a vital role in the creation of Osceola Farms Co. and New Hope Sugar Company.The Fanjuls purchased three mills in Louisiana and transported them by barge to Florida where they built the Osceola sugar mill in 1960. They also bought 4,000 acres of land to begin sugar cane farming.
Today, Florida Crystals farms 187,000 acres of land located in Palm Beach County, where the company also owns and operates two sugar mills, a sugar refinery,a rice mill, a center for packaging and distribution and a biomass power plant. Florida Crystals recycles sugar cane fiber and municipal wood waste and uses it as fuel to generate renewable energy that powers its sugar operations and tens of thousands of Florida homes. Florida Crystals’renewable power plant is the largest of its kind in North America.
Florida Crystals with its subsidiary, American Sugar Refining, has a capacity to produce seven million tons of refined sugar annually, making it the world’s largest producer.
Florida Crystals, under the leadership of Alfonso Fanjul and Jose Pepe Fanjul, and its subsidiary sell sugar in North America through leading brands, including Domino®, C&H®, Redpath® and Florida Crystals®. The company has expanded to Europe, where it is branded as Tate & Lyle®.
Alfonso Fanjul has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Fordham University and received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2010.
