What exactly is sugar? Sucrose, a carbohydrate occurring naturally in fruits and vegetables, is referred to as “sugar.” Photosynthesis, a natural process that converts sunlight into energy, produces a lot of sucrose. Sucrose is the most prevalent sugar in nature, with the highest concentrations found in sugar cane and sugar beets. Lantic Sugar cane is partially refined into raw sugar at mills near the sugar plantations before being shipped to Canada. After being cut, sugar cane must be processed quickly. Each year in September, the sugar beet crop is harvested. Beets are delivered to one of seven receiving stations in southern Alberta by growers.