CLEWISTON, Fla., April 30 (UPI) -- U.S. Sugar is leaving thousands of acres of land ahead of schedule, a move that is expected to aid the Florida Everglades restoration project.
The state and federal governments had purchased nearly 51,000 acres of land belonging to Talisman Sugar Corp. five years ago and leased 18,000 acres of it to U.S. Sugar.
The sugar company is leaving about half of the acreage now and the rest after the sugar harvest in the fall, The Miami Herald reported Friday.
"While there were some business issues that needed to be resolved, this was the right thing to do," said Robert Coker, U.S. Sugar vice president.
South Florida Water Management District Henry Dean said the company received no rewards or incentives to leave early.
Gov. Jeb Bush said the decision will help the $8 billion project by speeding things up.
"I am hopeful other sugar companies will follow suit," Bush said.
