sokerijuurikasta

Sokerijuurikas, scientific name Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, is a variety of beet grown specifically for its high sugar content. It is a root vegetable, typically white or pale yellow in color, with a taproot that stores a significant amount of sucrose. This sugar is extracted and refined to produce granulated sugar, which is a common ingredient in food and beverages worldwide.

The cultivation of sugar beet is concentrated in temperate regions with fertile soil and sufficient rainfall or irrigation. Major sugar beet producing countries include Russia, Germany, the United States, France, and Poland. The plant requires a long growing season and is usually sown in the spring, with harvesting taking place in the autumn. After harvest, the beets are transported to processing factories where they are washed, sliced, and then subjected to a diffusion process to extract the sugar.

The sugar beet industry plays a vital role in the agricultural economies of many countries, providing both a crop for farmers and a raw material for the food industry. Besides sugar, byproducts of sugar beet processing, such as molasses and beet pulp, are used in animal feed and for the production of ethanol. Sugar beet is also a source of other valuable compounds, including betaine, which has various industrial applications.