Minnesota’s Agricultural Utilization Research Institute named Suntava, Afton, Minn., the Ag Innovator of the Year.
Minnesota’s Agricultural Utilization Research Institute named Suntava, Afton, Minn., the Ag Innovator of the Year. The annual award is presented to a Minnesota-based business that has demonstrated the greatest innovation in products or processes, has achieved market success and has positively impacted Minnesota agriculture.
Suntava was recognized for the unique, health-conscious products derived from its proprietary, non-GMO purple corn hybrid. The initial product was Sayela, a vivid red natural colorant that serves as a stable, sustainable, all-natural replacement to synthetic red dye #40.
Suntava’s purple corn is used in dairy, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable-fusion juice drinks, other foods, cosmetics and dietary supplements.
The company’s processing technology can extract the high-value natural red dyes and antioxidants from low-value portions of the plant. As a result, the most widely utilized ingredients of the corn-the starches, proteins and oils-remain intact after extraction and available as value-added whole grain products and vegetable juice concentrates.
Currently in development is an anthocyanin-rich nutraceutical said to deliver four times the antioxidant power of blueberries.
Suntava
651/998-0723
www.suntava.com
