Stevia First Corp. Launches Website Featuring U.S. Production and Grower Resources

01 Jul 2015 --- Stevia First Corp., an agricultural biotechnology company based in California's Central Valley growing region and focused on the industrial scale production of stevia, the all-natural zero-calorie sweetener that is rapidly transforming the food and beverage industry announced the launch of an informative website designed to educate, promote and inform the public, industry partners, as well as local growers regarding the opportunity for California stevia production.

As the United States, Mexico, and many additional countries worldwide come to grips with the forecasts of crippling long term economic and social impacts due to national epidemics of obesity, diabetes and related complications, there is increased pressure to make healthier food and beverage options available. Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener that acts as a healthy, plant-derived alternative to sugar, and its use is an established and effective way to reduce calories and prevent metabolic disorder.

U.S. production of stevia could be a game-changing opportunity for the food and beverage sector. The stevia industry has long been dominated by Asian production with availability and pricing determined overseas, due to the introduction of stevia in Japan in the 1970's. But despite recent regulatory approvals in the U.S. in 2008, and in Europe in 2011, and despite many successful product launches, supply and prices from very labor-intensive overseas production systems has been volatile in recent years. Mechanized agricultural production in the United States combined with modern bioprocessing techniques by Stevia First could significantly change the economics and reliability of stevia leaf extract production, enabling key food and beverage companies to act with confidence to increase usage and marketing of healthier stevia products.

During a visit to the Stevia First facilities, Senator Jim Nielsen of California's 4th District offered warm words of encouragement which are available in a feature video segment available at: https://youtu.be/Jz2neGeGvuA as well as on the new website.

Stevia First Corp. CEO, Mr. Robert Brooke comments, "Today's announcement is exciting for us, as we've laid the groundwork over the last few years to truly modernize stevia production through the first significant U.S. production, and these resources highlight the advances we've made and how support from key stevia buyers can readily enable it."