Hawaii company to process final sugar harvest

(AP) KAUMAKANI, Hawaii - Gay & Robinson Inc. says its final sugar cane harvest will be processed in late October, when the company will officially leave the sugar business after 119 years.

The company said Tuesday it tried its best to keep sugar alive on Kauai, but "the last five years have been very difficult with mounting debt due to low sugar prices and high energy prices."

G&R made the announcement a year ago that it would shut down its sugar operations by 2010, leaving Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co on Maui as the lone sugar producer in Hawaii.

G&R plans to generate hydroelectricity as well as lease some of its 7,500 acres and facilities to Dow AgroSciences.

The family-owned company says it plans to offer housing for retirees and employees affected by the shut down.

(This version CORRECTS to G&R producing hydroelectricity, not Dow AgroSciences)