Twice a year, the people of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil harvest the fruit that grows at the top of the acai palm tree. This fruit is a main staple in the diet of the people in this part of the world and in recent times the fruit has become a major part of the economy of these farmers as well.
The fruit, is a dark purple berry that is clustered at the very top of the tree and one man will climb to the top and collect the fruit. Because of the massive interest in this berry from other countries, entire villages are becoming involved in the harvesting of the fruit.
Separating Pulp From The Seed
Despite the health benefits of acai berry, it is a remarkably fragile fruit. The minute it is harvested, the countdown begins to get it to the processing plant before it spoils. The acai berry will spoil within twenty four hours of harvest if it is not processed in time. The berries are loaded onto boats and carried away to the processing plant that will work quickly to begin the separating process.
There are a number of processes that could occur to the pulp and skin once it has been separated from the seed. The process will depend on where the product is going to end up. The pulp can be made into juice, sold as pulp for a number of food dishes, freeze dried and turned into a powder or dried for more processing later. The product that is the result of all this work will be used in a wide variety of products. The pulp is used in a number of dishes in Brazil and the surrounding area. It is a staple of the diet in this part of the world and can be made into many delicious foods.
Some of the product will be distributed to businesses that will use the freeze dried and or powdered product for supplements. Some companies mix the acai berry powder with other ingredients while others use the pure powder all on its own. When you are shopping for acai berry, this is something that you should take note of on the ingredients list.
The Popularity Of Acai Berry
The amount of interest in acai berry has made a dramatic impact on the harvesting activities in this part of the world. It is a great benefit to the people of Brazil that the world has taken notice of the benefits of acai berry. The harvesting of the berries has no impact on the trees and it actually prevents people from cutting them down to acquire the heart of palm. This is a tremendous benefit to the area where the acai palm grows. Not only are the people of Brazil enjoying an economic increase, but they are also keeping the acai palm trees flourishing and growing in the rainforest.
