Life is sweet in Louisiana’s Ascension Parish, where sugar is woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Renowned for its sugarcane, Ascension Parish proudly stands as one of the top producers in the state. Tall green stalks, kissed by the warm Louisiana sun, seem to stretch on forever in sprawling fields that hold a longtime tradition of farming.
The name Houmas House Estate & Gardens once echoed through the South as a grand testament to sugar production. Now serving as a historic estate with several restaurants and an inn, Houmas House still draws crowds. The property’s genteel architecture and grounds reflect a time when it was one of the largest sugar-producing plantations.
Every corner of Ascension Parish bears witness to sugar. From quaint bakeries to bustling markets, sugary treats are everywhere, making it a haven for those with a sweet tooth. Bread pudding, a decadent Bayou State dessert menu item, tempts locals and visitors alike. Creole confections like pralines are a beloved treat, and places like the Louisiana Praline Company in Sorrento use a staggering 120 pounds of sugar daily to fulfill the insatiable demand.
While the love for sugarcane runs deep, it’s taken on a new twist in recent years. Sugarfield Spirits, a distillery deeply rooted in Ascension Parish, opened its doors in January 2020 with a focus on local ingredients and high-quality spirits. Brothers Thomas and Andrew Soltau produce a selection of locally made infusions, liqueurs, craft gin, vodka, bourbon, and agricole-style rum. The sugarcane used in all its spirits is harvested locally and crushed at the distillery.
On the more traditional side, Palo Alto Plantation in Donaldsonville, a vast expanse of 3,000 acres, stands as a testament to the enduring nature of sugar production. The plantation, which was established nearly two centuries ago, produces a whopping 19 million tons of raw sugar each year. Additionally, the farm produces soybeans and has a cattle division.
As the warm Louisiana summer slips into a gentle autumn, the anticipation of the sugarcane harvest season begins in Ascension Parish. In October, the fields become a hive of activity. The sugarcane stalks are cut and gathered both by hand and by machine. It’s a time of hard work and celebration, as the parish unites in the harvest, breathing life into the legacy of the sugarcane crop.
In Ascension Parish, sugar isn’t just a commodity; it’s the past and future of this enchanting land. As the world rushes by, Ascension Parish remains an oasis of tradition, where sugarcane still reigns.
