INDIANAPOLIS, IN--(Marketwired - Sep 11, 2014) - Stevia Corp. (OTCQB: STEV) ("Stevia Corp" or the "Company"), an international farm management company focused on the commercial development of natural products that support a healthy lifestyle, including stevia and hemp and their extracts, is pleased to announce that it has delivered its first commercial order to Darden Direct Distribution.
The Darden family of restaurants features some of the most recognizable and successful brands in full-service dining: Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's and Yard House. Through its subsidiaries it owns and operates more than 1,500 restaurants serving more than 320 million meals a year.
This initial order is a result of the initiatives detailed in the Company's press release dated April 30, 2013 to develop US market channels for seafood production and consists of two containers of seafood valued over $200,000. Stevia Corp intends to continue expanding its market channels for seafood working with its aquaculture advisor, Andrew Kaelin and AIS Aqua Foods.
George Blankenbaker, Stevia Corp President, comments, "This is one step in our larger effort to focus on the North American market and it bolsters our overall efforts including the work being done by our wholly owned subsidiary Real Hemp LLC to develop a portfolio of hemp products targeting the healthy lifestyle sector."
Real Hemp LLC launched its corporate website (www.realhemp.com) on September 4, 2014 and is preparing to launch an e-commerce store as well. Initiatives are underway to bring a portfolio of hemp derived products to market and the Company will provide updates as product development materializes.
George Blankenbaker adds, "We had an opportunity to bring product to market sooner, but we felt the quality was not up to the standards that we want to portray. We believe it is critical that we embrace quality and earn the trust of our customers for long-term growth and success. We are taking a methodical approach to ensure that when we do launch our products it is done right and we intend to keep the public updated on our progress in this regard through social media channels and periodic press releases."
Further details of the Company's business, finances, appointments and agreements can be found as part of the Company's continuous public disclosure as a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database. For more information visit: www.steviacorp.us.
About Stevia Corp. (OTCQB: STEV)
Stevia Corp. is a farm management company focused on developing highly nutritional, high value products through proprietary plant breeding, excellent agricultural methodologies and innovative post-harvest techniques. Stevia Corp invests in R&D and IP acquisition and manages its own propagation, nursery and plantations as well as provides services to contract growers and other industry growers. Stevia Corp was founded on the principal of implementing socially responsible, sustainable, quality agribusiness solutions to maximize the long-term efficient production of nutritional crops. For additional information please visit: www.steviacorp.us.
About the Hemp Industry Sector
Hemp is a crop that can be grown for food and non-food purposes. As a result of its numerous nutritional benefits, many new food products containing hemp seed and its oil are finding their way into the marketplace, including pasta, tortilla chips, salad dressings, snack products and frozen desserts. Non-dairy hemp "milk" beverages, which provide significant amounts of omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) and protein, are also available. Hemp oil is also used in nutraceuticals, health care and body care products, as well as commercial sealants and paints.
As a fiber source, hemp is undergoing rapid growth as a natural fiber in everything from clothing and textiles to automotive composites and building materials.
The Hemp Industries Association (HIA) estimated that the 2013 retail sales value of hemp food and body care products in the United States was $184 million. When clothing, paper, auto parts, building materials and various other products are included, the HIA estimates that the total retail value of hemp products sold in the US in 2013 to be at least $581 million.
Seed and fiber uses for industrial hemp are growing rapidly and have increased over 300 percent, serving more than 25,000 products, in the past few years. Much of that growth is coming from the increased sales of hemp food products.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E 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, expansion of seafood distribution channels, Real Hemp LLC's product development and offering, launch of Real Hemp LLC's e-commerce store, growth of sale of hemp products and business strategy. 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.