CLOSTER, N.J. — American Key Food Products has introduced Suchero brand organic coconut palm sugar to the North American market and will serve as its principal distributor. The sweetener, which has a glycemic index of 35, has been shown to work in specialty baked foods, energy bars and beverages, and it also may be a tabletop sweetener.

“It is especially well-suited to today’s consumers who are looking for high quality, all-natural, organic whole foods,” said Mel Festejo, chief operating officer of Closter-based American Key Food Products. “Because it’s made from the sap of the coconut palm, it has an unusually high level of nutrients, which are retained through gentle, non-chemical processing.

“It has an appealing light brown color and mild, nutty sweet taste, and is great for diabetics, so we expect that product developers and consumers will see this as a better, healthier sweetener alternative.”