From the Editor
Luis Ayala
September’s name comes from the Latin septem, which means seventh, as it originally was the seventh month of the early Roman calendar. We’ve kept the name even though additional months were added, causing the seventh to be the ninth.
In modern times, the month of September has inspired writers and artists, such as English poet Mary Howitt (most famous for her poem “The Spider and the Fly”), who wrote that:
“There are flowers enough in the summertime,
More flowers than I can remember-
But none with the purple, gold, and red
That dye the flowers of September!”
In the alcohol beverage industry, September is the last “sane” month of the year, as we approach the adrenaline-rush of OND (October, November and December) when most companies go from red to black in terms of finances.
In the sugar industry (in our part of the world), September is usually the last month when maintenance can be wrapped up at the sugar mills, before the cane harvest season begins. Once the trucks carrying cane begin showing up at the mills, those operations must continue 24/7 until the end of the harvest, so the equipment must be prepared for the marathon pace!
For the past few years, “Got Rum?” has devoted a section of the September issue of the magazine to highlight the importance of sugarcane farming, harvest, milling and refining. This month is no different, but the scope is much more focused: we are putting the spotlight on the Louisiana sugarcane industry, which you’ll find on pages 34-43. Please pay attention to the number of people involved, as well as, the number of mills in operation over the years, which shows the crisis affecting this critical industry. The world needs sugar refineries, but every year there are fewer. Let’s protect this valuable industry, for us and for future generations.To the spirit of the cane!
Luis Ayala,
Editor and Publisher
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rumconsultant