Sweet Green Fields Announces Select Fields Program Targeting Customers with High Value U.S. Grown Stevia

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Green Fields, a leading U.S. based global producer of stevia extracts, today announced its introduction of the Select Fields Program, targeting food and beverage manufacturers who seek high quality stevia extract from American grown crop. The program stems from customer demand for U.S.-grown stevia that produces high yielding and cost effective products with a consistent taste profile. The program will allow customers to secure Sweet Green Fields stevia extracts grown from the 2013 U.S. crop season.

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"Over the past two years, our customers have requested we secure our U.S. grown high quality stevia crop for their product needs," said Dean Francis, chief executive officer of Sweet Green Fields. "With the Select Fields Program, we will provide food and beverage manufacturers with a partnership approach to the procurement of their stevia extracts and where applicable, allow them to leverage the U.S. grown story as they see fit for their product line."

The program will cover the full line of Sweet Green Fields products, including Sweetesse Stevia™ 97, the recently launched proprietary, high purity composition products Optesse HPX™ and Optesse HPX™, and a new line of high value natural extracts launching in March. The program will commence immediately and conclude in time for spring planting. A specific website has been created to provide customers with the program details at www.sgfselectfields.com. 

"The consumer marketing trends are clearly aligned with the Select Fields Program," observed James Kempland, vice president of marketing for Sweet Green Fields. "Recent studies find Americans are increasingly looking for 'Grown in the U.S.' (17-percent), in addition to 'Natural' (25-percent) and 'Organic' (24-percent) on their product labels."

The rationale, according to Shelton Group out of Knoxville, Tenn., a firm that specializes in green consumer research, insights and communications, is increased fears about food safety and the growing support for family farms and the economy. 'Grown in the U.S.' is a way to help fellow Americans ease their concerns, the study concludes.

A leading science-based global stevia producer, the company operates as a vertically integrated supplier, guaranteeing quality and control in every step of the process. With this customer driven program, Sweet Green Fields continues to demonstrate it is an industry leader in high purity stevia extraction, powering innovation for the food and beverage industry.

For information and the ability to join this unique program, visit www.sgfselectfields.com.

About Sweet Green Fields

Sweet Green Fields (SGF) is a leading U.S. producer of sweeteners derived from stevia, including high-purity stevia extracts and Rebaudioside-A. With a vertically integrated supply chain from seed to final sweetener operating in three continents, Sweet Green Fields markets natural sweeteners globally to food and beverage companies. Sweet Green Fields also provides formulation assistance with its line of sweeteners. The company has formulated reduced sugar applications in beverages, dairy, baking, and confectionary. www.sweetgreenfields.com

About Stevia and Stevia Extracts

Stevia is a plant of the Asteraceae (sunflower) family whose leaves have been used as a sweetener in South America for hundreds of years. Stevia extracts are the first all-natural, zero calorie high intensity sweetener that deliver on key food and beverage formulation metrics: zero calories, low Glycemic index, heat stable, pH stable, shelf stable, non GMO, Kosher and Halal and cost competitive on a sucrose equivalency sweetening unit.

SOURCE Sweet Green Fields