REGENERATIVE FARMING OF AÇAÍ and MANY OTHER EXOTIC PRODUCE GROWN IN PINHEIRO, MARANHÃO, BRASIL
Our LAND
Fazenda Forcai Farms is located in the city of Pinheiro, in the State of Marnhao. It has an extension of 50 hectares of land totally suitable for the cultivation and planting of Acai.It has all the necessary tools for the cultivation of an excellent product because it is wet land every day of the year, providing out of season crops.
Our BERRIES
from the Source
Açaí is the fruit of the açaí tree (Euterpe oleracea). Originally from the Amazon region, in addition to the fruit producing a tasty heart of palm, it is very rich in energizing iron and, in its pure state, an excellent way to prevent premature aging.The açaizeiro is a tree that can reach up to 30 meters in height and that prefers humid areas, a fact that makes it grow on the banks of rivers. The palm was mainly exploited for the production of palm hearts, but the fruit became the big business. Several alternatives emerged for the full use of this palm in the food, natural dyes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cellulose and paper industries, among others. With the expansion of the consumption of the açaí fruit, there was a reduction of the cut for the processing industries. The appreciation of the fruit has brought economic benefit to the regional and ecological population, promoting the conservation of açaí groves. To be appreciated, it is necessary that the açaí is crushed. Thus, its pulp is removed and mixed in the water, originating the so-called “açaí wine”. The fruit is used in the preparation of drinks, sweets, ice cream and jellies. The fruit of the Amazon conquered palates in several regions of Brazil. The açaí bowl, as it is called, is the most common form of consumption of the fruit: the frozen açaí pulp is mixed with guarana syrup, creating a paste similar to ice cream.Brazil is the world's largest producer of açaí, responsible for 85% of the world supply.
Açaí is the fruit of Euterpe oleracea, or simply açaizeiro: palm tree typically found in the Amazon. However, in recent decades, the fruit has been produced and consumed in other regions of Brazil and the world.In order to be consumed, the açaí pulp must be removed using specific machines or manually, after soaking in water. In addition to the famous açaí in the bowl, which are a mixture of açaí, guarana syrup, fruits (such as bananas) and cereals; this fruit can be consumed in juices, ice creams, popsicles, sweets, or just its pulp. In that case, some prefer it with a little sugar; others, with flour; or even with roasted fish or shrimp! One hundred grams of acai pulp contains about 250 calories, vitamins C, B1 and B2, phosphorus, iron and calcium.The pigment responsible for the typical coloring of our teeth, after ingesting açaí, is called anthocyanin, which is responsible for fighting free radicals, preventing premature aging. Continuous consumption of acai pulp also reduces the chances of heart disease, arthritis and obesity. Regarding this last factor, it is worth remembering that it happens in cases of moderate intake, since it is a caloric food, rich in fat (fortunately, most are of the polyunsaturated type).
Don't stop now... There's even more...These characteristics, combined with the large amount of fiber and proteins in general that it has, make the açaí pulp a widely used food – and indicated for athletes, after training. One of the commercial advantages of the açaizeiro is that everything from the plant is used: the fruit, for the preparation of delicious foods; the seed, for the extraction of oil for the manufacture of cosmetics, and the making of handicrafts; palm hearts, for cooking and as a natural remedy for bleeding control; sheets and strain for building roofs and making braided products such as bags, nets and bags; and the root, widely used in natural medicine, for example, as a vermifuge.
Our FAMILY
The Forcai farm is formed by a community of local workers from the Baixada Maranhense region. These people are residents of this beautiful region. They live with their families in small farms that are the owners they received as an inheritance from their ancestors.They have vast experience in all types of plantations that accompany them for generations and generations. They are deeply knowledgeable about the secrets of planting, cultivating and harvesting Acai. This secret makes us one of the producers capable of delivering high final quality to our distributors and end consumers. In the State of Maranhao, today we have the presence of the entrepreneur and partner of Fazenda Acai Farms, Josias Baptista Montegan, who runs the business in the city of Pinheiro from the offices of Fazenda Acai, located inside the Acai Club Hotel.In California, in Los Angeles, businessman Yaniv.
Our PROCESS
How is açaí made from planting to harvesting and distribution?
As a fruit grown in the Amazon region, açaí requires good production and distribution logistics - mainly because it has been increasingly consumed in different Brazilian states. Get a better understanding of how this whole process works: 1. The seed is germinated and then planted in the fieldTo begin with, the açaí seed is planted in an area destined for the germination process - which takes place in a period of 30 or 45 days. After that, the germinated seed is still stored for at least another month until the actual planting. After this time, the seed is finally grown in the field, where it takes up to 7 years to grow well and generate the first bunches of açaí. It's not a short time, is it? The harvest period for this fruit, for those who don't know, takes place between January and early August.
Note: It is worth noting that there are different types of açaí (purple, white, sword, chumbinho and others), the most cultivated being the purple or black açaí, which is very similar to jabuticaba.
2. The fruits are harvested and transported in boxes after the clusters appear on the palm trees, the harvest is carried out and, then, the fruits are transported in large boxes - sent to a specific sector of the industry. There, they will undergo a more detailed washing and separation process.
3. A washing process is carried outArriving at this new industrial production area, the fruits are washed in tanks with chlorinated water (a process that takes around 30 minutes) and then sieved. Then, a new washing takes place, which serves specifically for the removal of chlorine. Finally, the açaí is stored in another water tank, where it waits until the pulping and freezing process.
4. The 'pulping' and freezing of açaí occursAfter washing, the fruits are sent to a "pulping" machine that serves to separate the pulp from the seeds more quickly. Then, the pulp is sent to the packaging and freezing sectors. After all this process, açaí is ready to be distributed and sold in different places in Brazil. Although açaí is mostly produced and sold in the form of pulp, there are sectors of the industry that also extract the powder from the fruit for different purposes (production of cosmetics or different foods).
Note: It is worth noting that on the banks of Amazonian rivers it is also possible to find numerous açaí palm trees (native and wild). In this case, there are the açaí collectors - also called "peconheiros" - responsible for climbing the palm trees and collecting the fruits. Afterwards, the bunches are properly threshed and sent to the big industry or sold locally.
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