1)    The collection of leaves

  - Initiate the collection when 5% of the stevia flowers are open. By this time, the leaves havetheir highest concentration of steviosid.

  - Cut the plants 5-10 cm. above the land to preserve the roots.

  - Preserve the 5% of plants to produce seeds destined to increase plantation. 

  - It is required 1 worker per 1000 m² of land to collect the stevia leaves.

  - Water the land daily the first 2 weeks after the collection. Thereafter, do it twice a week. 

  - Initiate the second collection in 70-90 days after the first one.

  - 4000 kg/Hectare/year will be collected. The plantation will be preserved for 5-6 years withouta need of renovation.

2) The drying of leaves.

   - It is needed 100 m² of drying surface per hectare per week of collection. Avoid this step in raining days.

   - Use synthetic fabrics for the area used for drying.

   - The branches will be exposed to sunlight for 6 hours. The branches must not be interporsed.  
   - The best point to pick leaves up is when they turn brittle with a 10-12% of humidity.

   - Mechanical dryers can be used. Use high pressure air at 70 C degrees.

   - Collect the leaves with a rake with compressed extensions.

3) Storing up the dry leaves  
   - Store the dry leaves (dark green color) in bags (10 kg/bag) made of synthetic fabric or jute.
   - The bag must be stored in an environment with the following characteristics: dry, dark, clean and protected from humidity. They can be kept in this environment for 5-6 for commercial purposes. 
   - The light green leaves are despised in the market. They are considered as sick leaves because they where stored in bad conditions.