$STEV Appoints Dr. Jerry Smartt to Board of Directors

INDIANAPOLIS, IN–(Marketwired – Jan 12, 2015) –Stevia Corp. (OTCQB: STEV) (“Stevia Corp” or the “Company”), an international farm management company focused on the commercial development of products that support a healthy lifestyle, including stevia and hemp and their extracts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jerry W Smartt Jr. to its Board of Directors and Prof. Xie Haihui as research advisor.

Dr. Smartt is a board-certified neurologist and established Smartt Neurology, PC, in 2004 and Smartt Services, LLC in 2005 to provide private practice neurology and contracted services. Dr. Smartt provides contracted wellness center services to the Atterbury Job Corps Center and serves the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration as the physician contractor performing medical chart review and evaluation of disability for the Indiana Disability Determination Bureau. Dr. Smartt also serves as Volunteer Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology for Indiana University School of Medicine and Attending Staff Physician of Neurology for Indianapolis VA Medical Center.

Prof. Xie joins the Company with an extensive research background and is the first author or corresponding author of 19 science citation index papers, holds 3 patents and is currently a professor at South China Institute of Botany as well as a supervisor of postgraduates for master degrees and doctorate degrees and is a member of the Chinese Chemical Society and Japanese Pharmaceutical Society. His professional experience includes Research Assistant, Assistant Professor and Associate professor at the South China Institute of Botany, and visiting scholar and research assistant to Kyoto Pharmaceutical University.

George Blankenbaker, Stevia Corp President, commented, “Dr. Smartt and Prof. Xie will provide significant value as we and our subsidiaries focus on both the protocols to produce CBD and the commercial applications for our IP and products. Dr. Smartt and Prof. Xie also have extensive networks in the medical and research communities to attract additional talent to the company.”

The Company believes that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Stevia Technew Ltd.’s focus on CBD will create significant value for the company. CBD is one of at least 85 cannabinoids (chemical compounds found in both industrial hemp and marijuana) and hundreds of scientific studies have demonstrated CBD’s potential in addressing a wide range of serious conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, schizophrenia, PTSD, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, HIV dementia and many others. CBD is also non-psychoactive and avoids toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses.

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 and health care products.

As a fiber source, hemp is undergoing rapid growth as a natural fiber in everything from clothing and textiles to automotive composites. The fiber is also gaining popularity as insulation.

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 50,000 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, potential of CBD for treating diseases, annual retail value of hemp products sold in the U.S., growth of industrial hemp product industry, product development 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.