Learn the facts about Acai by Todd Levering

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Learn the facts about Acai
by Todd Levering

One of the most nutritious berries on the market, the acai berry, is found in the rain forests of South America . Arguably the most nutritious berry, the acai (A sci EE) berry has more nutrients in it than any other berry currently on the market.

The berry comes the from the acai palm, where it grows in strings. The palm itself is 15-25 meters tall with multiple trunks. The average palm has four to eight trunks, each one four to six inches in diameter, but palms with as many 25 trunks aren't uncommon. The fruit itself is under an inch in diameter, with a single large seed inside. The palm grows best in low-lit swampy areas, such as are found in the Brazilian rain forest, but it has been spread by animals throughout the Amazon basin. Each trunk produces four to eight bunches of berries throughout the year, with the dry season seeing the largest fruit production. An acai palm generally doesn't start producing fruit until it is about four to five years old.

The acai palm was originally harvested for its palm hearts, taking the place of another palm that had been harvested almost to the point of extinction. The multiple trunks of the acai palm can be removed, and the palm's trunks will grow back. Acai palms now provide most of the world's palm hearts, but over-harvesting is becoming a problem. However, as the palm hearts aren't as profitable as the acai berry juice is becoming, and as palm heart production is sustainable, the palm's berries may save the trees in the long run.

From the acai palm (euterpe oleracea) comes both its berries and the palm heart (a cluster of new leaves, also known as

Author's Biography:

Todd Levering is the publisher of a website that provides no-nonsense information about the acai berry. To get more info about acai berry research and products that are made with the acai fruit, visit http://acaipro.com

Posted on: July 27,2005

Email: acaipro@acaipro.com
Website: http://acaipro.com