It all starts in the Amazon Rainforest
Nativo Acai is harvested from the Amazon Rainforest in Northeast Brazil. Although the açaí palm grows in many different regions of the amazon, the best quality açaí berries come from the region close to the city of Belem in the state of Para.
Acai is wild-harvested by native river dwellers (Ribeiros) that create co-ops for the harvesting and transportation of the wild berries. Nativo buys from pre-approved co-ops that are selected because of their strict adherence to governmental regulations that pertain to the collection of açaí in the rainforest.
The proliferation of açaí fruit has helped raise the financial situation for the natives that harvest the berries. In addition, utilization of the açaí palm for its fruit rather than cutting down the trees helps to preserve the Amazon Rainforest. As such, your purchase of Nativo Acai helps support the Amazon Rainforest and the Nativos that harvest this powerful fruit.
LIVE LONGER AND MAKE THE AMAZON STRONGER
It's about quality
Nativo buys its açaí from pre-approved Nativo co-ops. These co-ops work with Nativo because of their strict adherence to governmental regulations that pertain to the collection of açaí in the rainforest.
Açaí must be picked from the tops of the palms and strictly prohibits the gathering of açaí fruit from the ground to insure quality and safety. To gather the fruit, harvesters scale a palm and proceed to cut the branches bearing açaí fruit. They jump from palm to palm, harvesting these branches, which fall to the ground after they are cut.
Nativo farmers spread a large piece of plastic on the forest floor between the trees they climb so that the falling açaí does not touch the ground. The açaí berries are then stripped off the branches and into baskets and sorted. Harvesters dispose of any poor quality fruit and carry the baskets full of quality fruit to boats that transport them to a port where the açaí is picked up by truck and brought to the production facility.
All boats and trucks that transport açaí are required to have a covered compartment to keep the fruit from direct contact with the sun, because such contact can speed up oxidization and rotting.
Fresh and Nutritious!
Acai must be processed and frozen within 24 hours of harvest, otherwise it begins to oxidize. Nativo typically completes the process within 12 hours. This quick production ensures that Nativo açaí is the freshest possible when frozen.
After the fruit it harvested by the native river dwellers, the berries are transported by boat to a port where the baskets are loaded onto a truck and transported to the processing facility. The cleaning of the berries and the extraction of the pulp must follow a standardized process developed to maximize health and safety and minimize production time to ensure the highest quality açaí.
The production process of açaí is mandated and highly regulated by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Sindifrutas (Union of Industries of Fruits and Derivates of the State of Para). Health inspectors visit the production facilities quarterly to ensure strict adherence to governmental guidelines and regulations.
The Legend of Iaça
At the mouth of the Amazon River, near the modern day city of Belém in Northeast Brazil, an Amazonian tribe was facing famine due to a severe drought. As the tribe suffered, its chief, Itaqui became more concerned about how to feed its people. A consensus was formed amongst the village elders that all children born thereafter were to be sacrificed for the greater good of the tribe. Perhaps due to that decree, many moons passed without the conception of a native child. Of course, an eventual birth was bound to happen and when it did, Iaçá, the chief’s own daughter, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
The chief, Itaqui, a man of his word, did not hesitate to uphold his decree. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Iaçá implored her father to spare her son’s life arguing that the fields were already green and there was an abundance of wild game throughout the region. Nevertheless, the chief maintained his word and the child was sacrificed. Iaçá, being overwhelmed with grief, locked herself in her quarters, and on her knees, pleaded with the gods for a way to show her father that such atrocities were not the proper solution for the tribe’s difficulties. She cried herself to sleep and in the wee hours of the morning awoke to the cry of a child. She opened the door and to her surprise saw her son smiling at the foot of an elegant palm tree. At first, she was in shock and then broke into a run throwing herself in the direction of her son. As she reached out her hands to embrace him, he disappeared and instead she found herself wrapping her arms around the tree. In her grief, Iaçá cried and cried until she lost the will to live.
The following day, her body was found, still hugging the tree. She was dead, but her smiling face radiated satisfaction and her large dark eyes were fixed on the top of the palm tree. Itaqui noted that the palm had a bunch of dark purple berries where Iaçá gaze was fixed. He ordered that the berries be gathered at once to be inspected. A deep, dark purple juice was extracted. It was found to be a very nourishing food. Itaqui thanked the gods because it allowed him to terminate the ban on childbirth, ensuring the future of his people. Reversing the name of his daughter, Iaçá, he baptized this mysterious fruit Açaí. Throughout subsequent generations, this dark, purple berry has given sustenance to the native people of this region. Today, almost all the inhabitants of Belém drink the juice of açaí thanks to the tears of Iaçá.
