Sweet Green Fields has launched its Selects Fields Program, which allows food and beverage manufacturers to secure stevia extracts grown from the 2013 U.S. crop season.
The full line of Sweet Green Fields products will be covered, including a new line of natural extracts that will launch in March.
"Recent studies find Americans are increasingly looking for 'Grown in the U.S.' (17%), in addition to 'natural' (25%) and 'organic' (24%) on their products labels," said James Kempland, vice president of marketing for Sweet Green Fields.
According to Shelton Group out of Knoxville, Tenn., a firm that specializes in green consumer research, insights and communications, the reason is increased fears about food safety and growing support for family farms and the economy. The study concluded, U.S. grown crops helps ease Americans' concerns.
