WTFCF S4, E5 Sneak Peek: Splenda Stevia Farms, A New American Industry

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.

American family farmers are dreamers. They’re do-ers, too, of course. Nobody works harder than farmers. But in the world of modern agriculture, it is getting harder and harder for Mom and Pop farms — the backbone America was built on — to get ahead.

Enter Heartland Food Products Group, the makers of Splenda brand sweeteners and many other products that help make it easier to reduce sugar intake.

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.

Historically, stevia has not been an American crop. It is almost produced in other countries, primarily China. If you notice the American flag motif in some versions of the Splenda logo, you probably understand Heartland is an America-first company. Heartland Chairman & CEO Ted Gelov put his money where his mouth is to establish the nation’s first stevia farm in central Florida.

Even better, the Florida location is just a mother farm — that’s where Heartland will grow the millions of stevia plants needed to fulfill the ultimate vision: Partnering with small American family farms to grow that crop.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Dr. Jeffrey Gold discusses ways families can approach changes in aging loved ones over the holiday season and manage care with compassion and empathy.
Laramie Sandquist discusses Nationwide Agribusiness’s commitment to grain bin safety initiatives, including providing life-saving equipment and training to fire departments across the country.
Brooks York with Agri-Sompo discusses how this year’s pricing period played out and what it could mean for farmers heading into the end of the season.
An import lag for ground beef will likely look different than last year’s egg shortage. The difference comes down to biosecurity and market flexibility.
Persistently low Mississippi River levels are turning logistics challenges into pricing risks — tightening margins for grain producers and exporters across the heartland.
Pull out the popcorn! We’ve rounded up the 10 best cowboy movies of all time.