Is stevia grown in the United States? The truth about domestic production

December 3, 2025 •

4 min read

While native to South America, the United States is one of the countries where stevia is commercially cultivated. However, the majority of the global supply still comes from other regions, most prominently in China, Paraguay, Kenya, and Zambia. The domestic industry is growing, driven by increasing consumer demand for natural sweeteners.

Quick Summary

Stevia is cultivated domestically in the US, primarily in the Southeast, though it is not a major global exporter. Production is expanding to meet rising demand for non-caloric, natural sweeteners, with commercial farms and research projects active in several states.

Key Points

Domestic Cultivation: Yes, stevia is commercially grown in the U.S., particularly in warmer climates like Florida and the Southeast.
Global Hubs: While U.S. production exists, major global cultivation centers are in China, Paraguay, and Kenya, which still supply a large portion of the market.
Regulatory Nuance: The FDA approves highly purified stevia extracts as GRAS for food additives, but not crude stevia leaf or unpurified extracts.
Emerging Industry: The U.S. stevia industry is still developing, with ongoing research into best practices and plant varieties for American conditions.
Crop Characteristics: Stevia is a perennial in its native habitat but often cultivated as an annual in most of the U.S. due to its sensitivity to frost.
Corporate Investment: Companies like Splenda have invested in U.S. stevia farming to secure domestic supply chains and create a higher-quality product.
Farming Challenges: Growers face obstacles such as the need for U.S.-adapted varieties, optimal production practices, and disease management.

Stevia's South American Heritage and Global Journey

Stevia, botanically known as Stevia rebaudiana, is a small herbaceous plant belonging to the sunflower family. Its origins trace back centuries to the border region of Paraguay and Brazil, where the indigenous Guaraní people used the leaves to sweeten drinks and for traditional medicine. From there, its popularity spread, eventually gaining a foothold in Asian markets, particularly Japan, decades before it was approved for widespread use in the West.

The Path to U.S. Approval and Market Growth

The journey for stevia in the U.S. market has been complex. For years, only dietary supplements containing stevia were permitted. This changed in 2008 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a "no objection" letter for the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status of certain high-purity steviol glycoside extracts, like rebaudioside A. This regulatory shift opened the door for stevia to be used as a food additive and sweetener in many products. It is important to note that the approval applies only to the highly purified extract, and crude stevia leaf or less-purified extracts are not approved for this purpose.

Commercial Stevia Farming in the United States

Despite being a relative newcomer to large-scale agriculture in the U.S., commercial stevia production has grown, supported by favorable climatic conditions in certain regions and a robust market demand.

Key U.S. Stevia Growing Regions

Florida: Large-scale operations have been established in Florida, with companies like Splenda setting up fully integrated farms. These farms manage the entire process, from growing mother plants to harvesting and on-site extraction. Florida's warm climate, long days of sunshine, and minimal frost make it a suitable environment for stevia cultivation.
North Carolina: Researchers and farmers in North Carolina have been exploring stevia as a viable cash crop, especially in areas with sandy soils and a history of tobacco farming. Since its initial trials in 2011, acreage has increased, proving its potential as a specialty crop in the state.
Other Southeastern States: The southeastern U.S. is considered an ideal region for growing stevia due to its climate and existing agricultural infrastructure. Projects funded by the USDA have specifically aimed at developing a sustainable stevia industry in this area.
California: Even in less-ideal conditions, such as Northern California, stevia has been successfully grown as an annual crop. Farmers in these areas must replant each year due to frost, cutting back the plants before the first frost to harvest the leaves.

U.S. vs. Global Stevia Production

While the U.S. domestic stevia industry is growing, it represents a smaller portion of the overall global market. The economics and scale of production differ significantly when comparing U.S. operations to established players in other countries. Here is a comparison of U.S. and global stevia production characteristics:


Feature	U.S. Stevia Production	Global Stevia Production (e.g., China, Paraguay)
Scale	Emerging and growing; often grown on smaller plots by independent farmers as a supplemental crop. Some integrated large-scale farms exist.	Long-established and large-scale operations; dominant in the global supply chain.
Climate	Grown as a perennial in warmer states (Florida) or annual in others due to frost sensitivity.	Thrives in its native subtropical, perennial environment in regions like Paraguay.
Yield	Varied, depending on local conditions and developing practices.	High yield per hectare, making it a very efficient crop.
Processing	Some vertically integrated companies, like Splenda, have on-site extraction facilities. Others may ship dried leaves for processing elsewhere.	Extensive processing infrastructure established over decades to handle large volumes for global distribution.
Market	Growing domestic market, focused on providing U.S.-sourced products to meet consumer demand.	Major global market supplying food and beverage companies worldwide.

The Role of Research and Innovation in U.S. Stevia Farming

American stevia farmers face challenges that require ongoing research and development to address. These include:

Developing Varieties: Creating stevia varieties best suited for specific U.S. soil and climate conditions is crucial for maximizing yield and sweetness.
Optimizing Production Practices: Best management practices for planting density, fertilization, and irrigation are being developed to help farmers increase profitability and yield.
Pest and Disease Management: As a relatively new crop in many areas, understanding and managing potential pests and diseases is essential for sustainable production. For example, researchers in North Carolina have identified potential stem rot issues.
Processing Efficiency: Improving local extraction and purification techniques is vital to create a robust and profitable domestic supply chain.

This research is helping to create a more stable and competitive domestic stevia industry. The potential for local and regional production offers farmers an opportunity to diversify their crops and tap into a high-demand market. For example, the USDA has funded projects aimed at strengthening the domestic supply chain and helping growers overcome these hurdles.

Conclusion

To answer the question, "Is stevia grown in the United States?" the answer is a definitive yes. Commercial stevia farming is a growing reality in the U.S., with established operations in states like Florida and an emerging presence in the Southeast. While the U.S. does not dominate the global market, domestic production is expanding to meet consumer demand for locally sourced, natural ingredients. The industry continues to evolve, supported by research and innovation focused on overcoming cultivation challenges and building a sustainable supply chain for the future. The next time you see a product sweetened with stevia, there is a possibility that its origins trace back to an American farm. To learn more about research initiatives, you can explore information from institutions like the USDA USDA Research Project on Stevia Development.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the majority of stevia on the market is grown overseas. However, domestic production has been increasing, and some brands, like Splenda, highlight their US-grown stevia.

The main global producers of stevia include China, Paraguay, Kenya, and Zambia. These countries have long-standing cultivation and processing industries.

Stevia is grown in the U.S. to meet the growing domestic demand for natural, non-caloric sweeteners and to provide a local, traceable source. Companies also use it to diversify their agricultural supply chains.

The main difference is regulatory status and purity. The FDA has only approved highly purified steviol glycoside extracts (like Reb A) as safe for use in food. Crude stevia leaf and less-purified extracts are not approved as food additives.

The southeastern United States is considered an ideal region due to its warm climate and long growing season. States like Florida and North Carolina have established commercial operations.

For home gardeners, stevia is a tender perennial that can be grown outdoors during the warm season in most U.S. climates. It is sensitive to frost, so it is often treated as an annual or brought inside for the winter.

Yes, for example, Heartland Food Products Group, the maker of the Splenda brand, has established Splenda Stevia Farms in Florida to grow and process its stevia domestically.

Some of the main challenges include the need for plant varieties optimized for U.S. growing conditions, developing best management practices for cultivation, and controlling potential diseases.