Sweet Green Fields to expand its U.S. stevia crop

Sweet Green Fields, LLC, a Bellingham, Wash.-based global producer of stevia extracts, recently announced that it plans to expand its stevia crop in the southeastern United States. Based on the crop’s performance during the 2012 growing season, along with the support the company received following its introduction to the region, Sweet Green Fields is committed to expanding its grower base and working with its partners to bolster its supply of American-grown, high-purity stevia extracts.

In 2012, Sweet Green Fields worked with grower partners in Georgia and North Carolina to produce the first commercial stevia crops in Southeast. With the support of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the Colleges of Agriculture from land grant universities in both states, Sweet Green Fields is committed to supporting economic development in agribusiness communities that have been negatively impacted by a changing crop landscape and reduced opportunities.

“We are extremely pleased with the performance of our 2012 crop, and we are very excited about the aggressive growth plan we have in place for 2013,” says Hal Teegarden, vice president of agricultural operations for Sweet Green Fields. “The response of our varieties to the environment, the regional expertise and technology to produce crops in a sustainable model and the support we have received from our agribusiness partners in the region, all back our plan to significantly bolster our supply of American-grown stevia.”

As an agricultural leader, Sweet Green Fields is committed to developing and implementing sustainable and socially responsible practices and working with its grower partners and stakeholder community to leverage technologies and uphold its commitments to the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to ensure responsible and sustainable stevia production. The company markets Optesse Stevia HPS and HPX, Altesse Stevia 99, Sweetesse Stevia 97 and 95 and Greenesse Stevia 80, 60 and 50.

Source: PR Newswire

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