Acai Saving the Rainforest

The harvesting of Açai berries is stimulating the local economies in the Amazon, as well as discouraging the poaching of palm trees.

• Açai Berry palm trees are often cut down to extract a 10-12 inch salad garnish called “palmito” or “heart of palm.” This kills the tree and the farmer (or poacher) gets about $.50 per “palmito.”
• The same farmer can harvest pounds of açai berries from that same tree for a significantly higher wage. He can harvest many trees per day/week/month. Then he can harvest from each tree again in 6 months. This encourages leaving trees standing, and starts a cycle of economic stability within the family, the town, and the region.
  

Açai is truly saving the rainforest, at a rate 250,000 trees per year!