Upcoming Events

Presenter:
Stephanie Webb

Watch for Free
This event is open to the public, but the recording is only accessible to active Airmid Institute members.

Zoom link to register and attend is:

In this presentation we explore the rapid emergence of Florida’s vanilla agriculture industry and its potential to reshape and stabilize the U.S. vanilla market. It highlights how Florida’s climate, innovative and sustainable cultivation methods, and expanding research efforts position the state as a reliable domestic source of high-quality vanilla.

In this talk I also examine vanilla’s vital role in the food, flavoring, and aromatherapy sectors, along with its notable health benefits, from antioxidant support to mood enhancement. Altogether, the presentation shows why Florida’s sustainable, homegrown vanilla industry is timely, resilient, and increasingly essential.

Stephanie Webb is a botanical formulator, sourcing specialist, and educator whose career reflects a lifelong dedication to plants, sustainability, and integrative wellness. After earning her BFA from East Carolina University, she began her professional journey as an art teacher in London before founding Seedling Kids, an acclaimed U.S.-made organic children’s clothing brand recognized by Martha Stewart and Vogue for its innovative, plant-inspired designs. Her interest in sustainable agriculture and botanical ingredients eventually led her to pursue extensive training in herbalism, aromatic medicine, and plant-based therapeutics.

For more than twenty years, Stephanie has worked with essential oils, and over the last decade has taught aromatherapy to healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and conference audiences across the country. She currently serves as Lead Botanical Formulator for one of the world’s largest CBD companies, specializing in plant chemistry, formulation, and global botanical supply chains. In 2020, she founded Sunshine State Vanilla LLC, launching the first commercial domestic vanilla operation in the United States. Through this work, she consults with Florida farmers on cultivation, tissue culture, and curing techniques. Stephanie’s passion for plants continues to guide her mission to advance sustainable botanical industries and empower others through education.