Harvesting and uses Açaí palm

a grove of açaí palms in brazil



açaí palm



serving of açaí pulp



separation of açaí pulp seeds in market belém, pará, brazil

in study of 3 traditional caboclo populations in brazilian amazon, açaí palm described important plant species because fruit makes major component of diet, 42% of total food intake weight.

in 2005, article published greenpeace international stated “the tasty dark violet wine of açaí important non-wood forest product in terms of money river delta of amazon.” 2008 los angeles times article noted while açaí has been acclaimed sources renewable resource can provide sustainable livelihood subsistence harvesters without damaging amazon rainforest, conservationists worry açaí succumb destructive agribusiness model of clear-cut lands, sprawling plantations, , liberal application of pesticides , fertilizer. although açaí grown conventionally, company sambazon established usda organic certification açaí palm plantations in 2003 , has implemented fair trade certification.

cultivars

few named cultivars exist, , varieties differ in nature of fruit:

branco rare variety local amazon estuary in berries not change color remain green when ripe. believed due recessive gene since of branco palm seeds 30% mature express trait. has less iron , fewer antioxidants more oil, , many believe have superior taste , digestibility purple açaí.
brs-para dwarf developed brazilian agricultural research agency. grows @ 5–7 metres tall, fruits sooner (3 years seed), , produces larger seed yielding 25% more fruit pulp wild açaí.




^ marcason, w. (2009). açaí berry , there health benefits? . journal of american dietetic association. 109 (11): 1968. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.09.017. pmid 19857637. 
^ worldwide demand açaí growing . fresh plaza. retrieved 1 may 2017. 
^ murrieta rs, dufour dl, siqueira ad (1999). food consumption , subsistence in 3 caboclo populations on marajo island, amazonia, brazil . human ecology. 27: 455–75. doi:10.1023/a:1018779624490. 
^ amazon case study: there no single solution save amazon rainforest . greenpeace international. 16 september 2005. retrieved 16 september 2005. 
^ mcdonnell, patrick j. (21 september 2008). humble berry global superfood . los angeles times. 
^ engels, gayle (2010). açaí . herbalgram, american botanical council. 86: 1–2. 
^ cheeseman, g-m. how sustainability embedded in sambazon . guardian. retrieved 1 may 2017. 
^ duval, (2010). açaí branco: maintaining agrobiodiversity through local seed system in amazon estuary (pdf). tropical bulletin: yale university tropical resources institute. 29.