American imports are massive. Everything from machinery, appliances, furniture, pharmaceuticals and so much more. Yes, we are even getting our prescription drugs from foreign countries. I realize it’s a global economy, but I also know we have to take care of business at home first. I don’t know about you, but for me, dependence on other countries is beyond scary, especially when it comes to our food: If we lose the ability to feed ourselves as a nation, we’re in real trouble.
Can there be such a thing as bringing something back from foreign producers? Short answer – yes.
WTFCF visited Splenda Stevia Farms, owned by Heartland Food Products Group, in Central Florida on May 3 to tell such a story.
By now you are probably wondering, What does Splenda have to do with this topic or with farming? Well, until very recently, there was no production of stevia — a plant-based sweetener — in the U.S. It was all grown in other countries, primarily China. Rather than rely on foreign imports, Heartland Food Products Group has entered the farming business itself with a stevia farm in Central Florida that will supply the plants to create an entirely American industry in partnership with small family farms. In fact, all Splenda products are made in America. Pretty cool. . .
To read all of Where the Food Comes From Producer Donna Sander’s behind-the-scenes perspective on this week’s episode, CLICK HERE.
Splenda’s new stevia farm in Florida is the first of its kind in the United States. Thousands of plants produce millions of leaves that are then turned into plant-based stevia sweetener products. But how do they get the sweet stuff out?
October 31, 2023 09:00 AM
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What does Splenda have to do with farming? Sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia are plant-based — so they are just not sugar, but are comprised of those other plants also grown on farms.
October 30, 2023 09:00 AM
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Where the Food Comes From producer Donna Sanders takes us along on a behind-the-scenes look at filming the show’s newest episode, “Clemson Blue,” where university cheesemakers reveal how they put the “blue” in their award-winning blue cheese.
October 26, 2023 09:00 AM
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It is in there, the mold — those rich blue veins in creamy blue cheese that make you either love it or loathe it — but how does it get there? This bonus scene from “Clemson Dairy,” Season 4, Episode 4 of
Where the Food Comes From, explains how and why that happens.
October 25, 2023 09:00 AM
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No, it is not some new college course — Clemson has been making blue cheese since 1941, and the product has developed a worldwide following and won some pretty big awards. With good reason — it is fantastic stuff. It is also fascinating to see how it is made. Check out this sneak peek look at the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From, “Clemson Blue.”
October 24, 2023 11:32 AM
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The machines do all the work at Hickory Hill Milk in South Carolina, and the pampered cows get on-demand service. The team at Where the Food Comes From shares a special, behind-the-scenes account filming the show’s newest episode, Robot Dairy, premiering this Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at 9:30 p.m. ET on RFD-TV!
October 19, 2023 09:00 AM
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