Final answer:
The highest consumers of sugar are in North America, particularly due to the increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup since the 1970s. The historical importance of sugar in the global economy led to the development of plantation-style slavery for its production, with Brazil and the United States being significant producers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The highest consumers of sugar today are in North America. Data, including infographics, has shown that since the 1970s, the consumption of sugar, particularly high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), has significantly increased in the United States. This is in part due to the cheap production of HFCS which has largely replaced cane sugar. This shift has driven an increase in total sugar consumption in the US, according to sources such as Wikimedia and the US Sugar Alliance. Sugar production is significant in many regions of the US, with corn sweeteners produced in the Midwest, sugar beets grown in California and elsewhere, and sugar cane grown in states like Louisiana, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas.
When looking at historical context, sugar has played a crucial role in the global economy and trade. It was the most important commodity in the Atlantic World, akin to oil today. The cultivation of sugar cane required a large labor force, leading to the development of plantation-style slavery in the US, Caribbean, and South America, with Brazil becoming a major producer. African slaves worked on Portuguese sugar mills, and sugar cane originally developed in Southeast Asia became a staple due to its sweetness, replacing honey in Europe.