GILBERT, Ariz.–Stevia can bring a significant economic boost to the South and Central American nations where it grows, according to James May, founder and CEO of Wisdom Natural Brands®, makers of SweetLeaf Stevia® sweetener, at the second annual Federation Americana de la Stevia (Stevia Federation of the Americas) in Cancun, Mexico, on Aug. 25. May is the honorary president of the Stevia Federation of the Americas.
May said, depending on the area and weather conditions, the stevia plant can yield anywhere from three to eight harvests per year.
May spoke about the benefits of stevia to representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Canada and the United States. Also present were representatives from INIFAP (National Institute of Forestry and Farm Research) and SAGARPA (Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food).
“When I first brought stevia to the United States nearly 30 years ago, no one had ever heard of it, and none was being consumed in the United States," said May. “But it is estimated that 47.7 tons of stevia were consumed in the United States in 2010. Let’s hope we can significantly increase this number by the end of 2012."
May added that if companies want to participate in the growth of the stevia market, they must harvest the best-quality leaves and produce high-quality stevia extract.
May was named honorary president of the Stevia Federation of the Americas in 2009 and was re-elected in November 2010. SweetLeaf Stevia offers more than 20 stevia products, from teabags to tabletop sweeteners. SweetLeaf Stevia sweetener earned the 2010-2011 Annual Global Stevia Products Award from the International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health (ISANH) based on taste performance, advancement in ingredient science, and positive environmental and social impact.
