Coke is already sweetening the deal for Louisiana

By the numbers: Louisiana is the U.S. leader in sugar cane production, with some 535,000 acres dedicated to the crop, Strain tells Axios New Orleans. It contributes about $4 billion to the state economy annually.

• Louisiana growers expect to produce 2.046 million tons of sweet stuff this year, with between 2.085 to 2.089 million tons expected next year.
• In other words, Strain says, "that's a lot of sugar."

And there's room to grow. "We still have a lot of alluvial soil to increase capacity in the central part of the state," Strain says, particularly between Baton Rouge and Alexandria.

• "We'd have to plant cane on what is traditionally pasture acres or maybe, to a lesser extent, corn and beans, but we still have a lot more capacity."

The intrigue: It's not just the new Coke product that's exciting Strain.

• A broader health trend toward natural sweeteners could mean bigger growth for Louisiana sugar, especially if more brands follow suit.
• Bans on artificial sweeteners and lesser-processed foods, like those state lawmakers approved for school lunches earlier this year, are also shifting market demand.

Case in point: Just look at McCormick seasonings, Strain says, which are posting increased sales as people cook more at home.

Go deeper

• How Coke using sugar instead of corn syrup could affect you
• MAHA-inspired Coke shift is not a health win, nutritionists say
• Trump Coke push will cost thousands of jobs, corn group warns