The Hershey Company has decided to no longer use sugar produced from sugar beets in its chocolates.  They will transition to 100-percent cane sugar sometime in 2016. Company officials say it’s due to increasing consumer concern over genetically modified seeds, although they claim GM sugar is safe.  Duane Maatz is Executive Director of the Red River Valley Sugar Beet Association. He says it’s mostly an export issue and not one of safety.

He says his industry is working to become more environmentally friendly and is looking at various seed alternatives to deal with these types of concerns.

Maatz says most of the sugar exports are for food products.

Sugar beet farmers are feeling the impact as Hershey is a top industry customer.  Minnesota is the top sugar beet producer in the country, with North Dakota third.