SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 31, 2013) - Stevia First Corp. (
The article poses the question, "After tobacco: What?" The answer envisions US farmers considering making the move to the valuable but lesser known crop stevia as a solution. The article points out that the value is growing, partially due to the fact that about 55 million American households bought stevia-sweetened products in the past year, according to Nielsen data.
Robert Brooke, CEO of Stevia First, comments in the article that most U.S. consumers had never heard of stevia in 2008, the year the FDA approved its use as a sugar-substitute, even though it has been widely used in Japan for decades and has been grown in South America for hundreds of years. The article profiles stevia as a zero-calorie, all-natural sweetener used by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and a fast-growing list of other food and beverage manufacturers.
And as a crop for US farmers, stevia and tobacco share similarities because both can thrive in the same climates and soils. Stevia can be planted, grown and processed using many of the same techniques and much of the same equipment as tobacco. It's not a one-to-one match by any means, as Stevia First's agronomist, Jeremiah Mann tells ABC. But it's close enough for tobacco farmers to regard stevia as a promising alternative.
The Company is delighted to be featured prominently in the article, and invites the public to read the entire story at: http://goo.gl/fAIG9B.
About Stevia First Corp. (
Stevia First Corp. is seeking to establish a vertically-integrated enterprise in the U.S. that uses technological expertise in fermentation-based stevia production and improves upon traditional stevia farming and processing methods. Stevia First's U.S. operations are located in the heart of California's Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.
About the Stevia Industry
The market for all-natural, zero-calorie stevia sweeteners is expanding rapidly. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates stevia intake could eventually replace 20-30% of all dietary sweeteners. The total global sweetener market was estimated at $58.3 billion in 2010. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27(a) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections of worldwide sales of stevia products, growth of stevia production and global markets. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Investor Relations
Stevia First Corporation
Email: info@stevia-first.com
Tel: +1- (530) 231-7800
Web: www.steviafirst.com
Media Relations
Laura Radocaj
Dian Griesel Int'l
Tel: +1-(212) 825-3210