Stevia First Corp. Announces Pilot-Scale Production Of California-Grown Organic Stevia Extract

Sacramento, CA (Marketwired) - Stevia First Corp. (OTCQB: STVF) ("Stevia First" or the "Company"), an early-stage agribusiness based in California's Central Valley growing region and focused on the industrial scale production of stevia, the all-natural zero-calorie sweetener that is rapidly transforming the food and beverage industry, is pleased to announce initial pilot project results in support of organic stevia extract production in the United States.

The Company has successfully produced commercially relevant quantities of USDA and California Certified Organic Farms organic stevia leaf in Northern California as feedstock for its extraction system development. This defines the Company as one of the few, if not the only entity, spearheading the expansion of organic stevia leaf and extract production in the United States.

Stevia First will continue to increase the availability of California-grown organic stevia through catalyzing a grower network. The Company is providing interested growers with the resources and knowledge to grow stevia at all phases of leaf production, and aims to provide significant domestic leaf extraction and processing capabilities. Currently, worldwide stevia cultivation may approach 50,000 acres with a minute fraction occurring in the United States. Stevia First intends to help convert a portion of the estimated 2 million acres of the irrigated land in California available for forage crop production, in addition to converting under-producing vegetable and tree crop acreage to commercial stevia leaf production.

Company CEO Robert Brooke comments, "We are continuously adapting modern mechanization and processing technologies for use within an integrated domestic stevia production system. Our work enables the improvement of production economics across a variety of desirable stevia products, including California-grown organic stevia extract."

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 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.

About Stevia First Corp. (OTCQB: STVF)
Stevia First Corp. is seeking to establish a vertically-integrated stevia enterprise in the U.S. with expertise in stevia seed and tissue propagation, plant breeding, and cultivation. Stevia First's U.S. operations are located in the heart of California's Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.

About the Stevia Industry
The market for all-natural, zero-calorie stevia sweeteners is expanding rapidly. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates stevia intake could eventually replace 20-30% of all dietary sweeteners. The total global sweetener market was estimated at $58.3 billion in 2010. For more information visit: www.steviafirst.com.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27(a) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21(e) 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, projections of worldwide sales of stevia products, growth of stevia production and global markets. 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.