Fresno, California: S&W Seed Company has received a trademark for the use of the brand name ‘Kandi Leaf’ stevia. On S&W’s unique stevia lines bred for enhanced flavor characteristics, the trademark will be applied and marketed for the fresh and dry leaf market. In this, S&W currently has two unique stevia varieties such as ‘SW 201’ and ‘SW 227’.

Developing varieties with unique, enhanced characteristics, providing added value along the entire supply chain is the focus of S&W’s stevia. Previously S&W has applied for patent protection with the USPTO for two unique stevia varieties for the commercial processing market— ‘SW 107’ and ‘SW 129’ and it also applied for patent protection with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO) for ‘SW 201’ and ‘SW 227’. “Our stevia program is laying the foundation for commercial-based production contracts, royalty agreements and other R&D collaborations. Now await our patent protection being granted by the USPTO. The trademark for Kandi Leaf follows our earlier trademarking of ‘Stevia California’ as we look to brand and market S&W’s stevia development and commercialization program through the introduction of unique varieties," said Mark Grewal, chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company. He also said that, their intention to build a portfolio of proprietary stevia varieties that they believe can add value at the front end of the supply chain to address the rapidly growing stevia market. They also view their branding capabilities of S&W's unique stevia varieties as a key component to their commercialization strategy moving forward.