Stevia First Corp. Leases 1,000 Acres for Base of Commercial Stevia Operations in California's Central Valley


SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 25, 2012) - Stevia First Corp. (OTCBB: 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 it has secured a lease for its first major land position towards the development of a 1,000 acre base of commercial stevia operations.

The newly leased lands will become the Company's base of operations over the coming months as efforts move from internal studies and seed propagation into planting activity for the 2012 season. Management has identified hundreds of acres within the 1,000 acre property that appear to offer conditions suitable for stevia planting after completion of typical ground preparatory efforts and fertilization. The growing conditions are indicative of the region and the surrounding infrastructure will prove instrumental in the development and implementation of commercial phase trials.

The property is located within the unique Sutter County FPARC zoning district which is designated for food processing, agricultural, recreation and combination land uses. The zoning allows for a broad range of potential uses by the company, including stevia planting and seed operations, nurseries, processing plants and facilities, facilities for the generation of energy from processing or agricultural operations including the recycling of byproducts, as well as maintenance facilities related to agricultural operations.

The infrastructure at the location offers significant access to natural gas, water, electricity, roads and drainage which provides the Company with everything required to efficiently and cost-effectively manage farming and processing operations. The resulting cost modeling will serve as an economic baseline destined to aid in assessing and determining the suitability for other large scale commercial stevia cultivation ventures both in California and elsewhere across the nation.

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. (OTCBB: 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.

Contact Information:

Contact:
Investor Relations
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Email: stvf@crescendo-ir.com
Tel: +1- (888) 727-1020
Web: www.steviafirst.com