What's the difference between organic sugar and non-organic sugar?

Answer 1

Organic maple syrup is somewhat of a misnomer as almost all maple syrup comes from trees that are grown "organically", in woodlots without the use of herbicides or pesticides. That said, some maple producers have taken the time and trouble to become certified as organic, and paid the money required for the privilege of marketing their syrup as organic.

By Federal law, pure maple syrup cannot contain anything but the sugar obtained from the sap of maple trees with no additives allowed except for a small amount of defoamer, generally a few drops of vegetable oil added to keep concentrated sap from foaming out of the pan during a hard boil as it reaches syrup density. Organic maple syrup may also contain defoamers but those must also be certified organic.

The requirements for organic syrup certification varies by state but generally involves use of lead free collection containers. Old style buckets used in sugaring sometimes contained lead solder but their use is now banned by most of the largest producer states and provinces and has been for some time.

I have seem some organic food sites misinform their readers that non certified syrup may contain formaldehyde. Nothing could be farther from the truth for at least the last 20 years or more. Using formaldehyde to sanitize a tap hole was an accepted practice in some areas at one time. That has been banned everywhere in the US since the early 90's and was never allowed in Vermont, the largest state producer in the US.

Dedication to tree management practices geared toward sustainability such as use of smaller diameter taps is also generally a part of organic syrup certification. Many producers maintain the same sustainability practices whether or not certified organic. Sustaining the health of trees is a priority for most producers, many of whom have been tapping the same trees for 3 or 4 generations or longer.

Though organic foods can be a healthier alternative in many cases, as you can see, the difference between certified organic maple syrup and that which is not certified often boils down to no more than the price you pay for it.

Answer 2

The difference between organic sugar and non-organic sugar is the way in which it is farmed as well as their nutritional content.