Why People Risk Their Lives To Harvest Açaí | True Cost | Business Insider

Most of the world’s açaí comes from the Amazon rainforest. People risk their lives to harvest the fruit, climbing palm trees that can grow taller than 50 feet. And while açaí has become one of the trendiest superfoods in recent decades, small farmers aren’t seeing a lot of the profits. The açaí industry has also taken heat over reports of child labor. We went to Brazil to find out how the world’s açaí gets from the Amazon to smoothie shops around the world.
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Why People Risk Their Lives To Harvest Açaí | True Cost | Business Insider

[@drewlistones]

He seems like a very nice person. Wishing him good fortune and his açaí business to thrive.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

ameen

[@charlesficherwcoffeebreaks7521]

Shalom Greetings Grandrising! I remember trying Açaí from Monavie back in highschool in Spring TX Klein Collins; the juice was thick and after 4oz shot before bed threw my dreams and athletic ability right in a seeet spot where I could perform more quality push-ups and a more consistent ab workout due to more antioxidants packed in a 4oz shot of Monavie than what I ate in fruits and superfoods all month. Peace love and light from Las Vegas and N.O.L.A

[@NazriB]

Lies again? AMWF CHINESE

[@dikifebrianoza2361]

@@fidelcatsro6948 🔥P🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@dikifebrianoza2361]

@@fidelcatsro6948 🔥P🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@t.k3650]

I am a Brazilian who lives in the North region, basically in the Amazon rainforest, on a school trip visiting riverside communities (we call "ribeirinhos"), I saw a 75 year old man climb an açaí tree, they are a very hardworking and humble people.

[@gachatube2275]

Supplying a service and getting just enough to survive. Like farm animals. Humbling, to say the least...

[@t.k3650]

@@gachatube2275 It's not simple like this.

[@pot0tin]

I believe it. My family comes from the peruvian amazon and one of my aunties broke her shoulder and wrist after she fell from a tree she was harvesting fruit from. She was at least 70 years old, we´d constantly tell her to stop climbing trees but she couldn´t stay still.

[@donnalawrence8593]

I wish they all would get more money and equipment to help them out to be safer and get a better life that they All deserve. The people who have hardly anything are usually the nicest ,most humble people. What a way to stay healthy ,get exercise and make a small profit when they deserve so much more.

[@onazram1]

@@banqkaiqai5567 It's the Acai....

[@a.c.1515]

it's disgusting when people praise the work ethic of farmers like these without noticing how grossly overworked and underpaid they are, nobody deserves to be so desperate that they risk their life every day just to stay afloat

[@RogerSanGabriel]

Unfortunately all farmers are over worked all over the world.

[@evertenplaza3673]

Well who exactly is gonna pay them more? You can see the supply line, theres hundreds of people inbetween him and the primary consumer. When plantations produce more they undermine his ability to negotiate prices. I can feel for the guy that its hard labor, but the mechanics of how to pay him more? Thats a problem that could only be solved by *investing* in people like him, good people who could live much better if they had the equipment to make more and have more negotiating capacity.

[@miketilton6393]

It's called life. You need a lesson on it imo

[@REALWOODSMAN]

I climb trees in America and cut them down for a living how is that any different I barely keep my head over water how's it any different than a police officer that risks his life I'm just saying

[@y4k052]

@@REALWOODSMAN being a police officer isn’t even the most dangerous job in America, in fact your job, which I assume is a lumber Jack, is way more dangerous on average. Look up statistics. I do believe that if you’re doing such a dangerous job and earning that little you should be more paid much more, just like the farmers in the video.

[@k.a.davison9897]

How many times in life are you going to hear someone, anyone, say "We are poor, but we are rich in spirit." That was a beautiful moment that I feel honored to have experienced.

[@onlythewise1]

rich in healthy body

[@sakyahsamad1082]

If like to be rich and healthy body, you have to make your self happy always, do not thinking about all the problem do you have,that you have to try to be rich and healthy body , even you not well do not think about that ,every days make your self happy ,that will keep you rich and healthy body ,thank you

[@stephaniemoura9325]

I’m from Pará, and I have to say this video is very truthful and not exaggerated at all. I grew up eating açai from my families farm. It is a essential part of families nutrition in Pará. And it makes me soo sad to see it being romanticised by Americans/Europeans while the product just gets more expensive for local people. And believe me, the açai sold in other parts of the world is much much weaker than the açai we eat in Pará. So you won’t even be getting all the nutrients on the same proportions. The açai that it’s sold even outside Pará but still in Brasil is not the same. Also, the large plantations of açai that are not naturally grown are very detrimental for the biodiversity of the Amazon forest like said in this video, but in my mind the biggest problem wasn’t even said in this video. Açai takes a huge amount of water to grow. HUGE. (Naturally grown açai is only found in Amazon close to river beds or lakes nascent, or in some soil that received a lot of water naturally) If we begin to see large plantations of Açai just so some farmers can gain profit from it we’re going to have the avocado problem 2.0 but in Brazil. In Pará, in my state. And I don’t wanna see that.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

sounds like Avocado farming

[@stephaniemoura9325]

@@fidelcatsro6948 exactly, it’s going that way…

[@morrisdante2194]

Hello Replies...

[@cornholius]

I like açai, but I never buy it from restaurants. I only buy it occasionally from grocery stores in puree form to use in smoothies. I didn't know it negatively impacted the environment, and as an organic farmer myself- that's important to me and makes it hard to enjoy knowing the truth. I find it reprehensible that the farmers are only getting pennies for their harvest while the greedy middle men(importers and exporters) make the most. I hope in the future with the internet and knowledge sharing, that producers/farmers will demand a higher price as they should be getting the lions share of profits. The guy sitting behind the desk can still make money and not contribute to hard working people living in povery while making a relatively few poeple rich. The current expoitation is disgusting.

[@morrisdante2194]

Hello

[@No0dz]

The reason why açaí is so popular is due to added sugar. It's almost impossible to find industrialized açaí without syrup (most use guaraná syrup, which is still mostly sugar with some flavoring). I lived in southern Brazil for most of my life, and I never tasted the actual berry, only the syrup-soaked açaí sorbet. So think of a bowl of açaí is as being as healthy as a bowl of maple syrup: a nice treat if you're physically active, but a sugar bomb if you're a couch potato.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

sugar added diabetes juice wow

[@scallaghan2118]

Very interesting info. Thank you!

[@airtongabriel6827]

Sou de Rondônia o gosto de açaí puro não é lá essas coisas tem que se adicionar um pouco de açúcar ao menos é a fruta em si não e comestível ao natura tem que ser esquentada a uma certa temperatura e moída para virar uma espécie de suco

[@osmonddsilva1577]

Sugar content is too high! Bad for diabetes.............need to get Organic and 100% acai, if possible

[@samuraiboi2735]

@@fidelcatsro6948 yup thats why its best to taste authentic.Tho i myself had never seen a berry grow on trees before or heard of acai.

[@ahadmrauf]

I've only found acai here in the states with added sugar, but that final meal of rice, beans, and raw acai pulp looks delicious!

[@amamam95]

It's a aquired taste for foreigners, i grew up eating açaí since i was 5 i think, and the fresh fruit does not taste anything like the frozen added suggar berry. And also people from outside the amazon eat açaí like a dessert, while here we eat it as a main course mainly alongside any salty protein (fish, chicken or cow). Açaí goes very well with any salty dish because it kind of neutralizes the salt and it potentializes the flavor of the dish

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

It's the same as the cocoa industry in Côte d'Ivoire/Ivory Coast. Côte d'Ivoire leads in cocoa production, producing over two million tons per year. However, while the rest of the world enjoys chocolate in its many forms, the people harvesting the cocoa beans get little profit. They don't even get to eat their products. A short documentary interviewing the Ivorian cocoa farmers gave them a European chocolate bar and it was the first time they tasted their product (one farmer didn't even know what people could make with cocoa beans; he just wanted to make a living). A farmer said he earned 7 EUROS per day, and he had to take care of 15 family members along with four laborers. The world is taking advantage of both these places and they can't keep up. Not to mention, cocoa production has led to the dramatic destruction of the country's tropical forests

[@wayland8]

DFTBA!

[@wayland8]

I think you created a great parallel! I see loads of Europeans and Americans talking about how the family looks happy with little and basically romanticizing the situation so they don't feel bad about eating Açaí, but the reality is that they don't get enough money from the harvesting, their house is not optimal and their area has a small budget for health and education

[@1989Nihil]

@@wayland8 And once bigger companies decide to cash in on the newest super-foods trend, they'll bully out small family farmers like the one shown in the video. Aside from that, Nogueira's farming of açai looks like they take care of the ground as well, by having multiple types of plant growing around, and not just the açai trees, unlike the monoculturist plantations.

[@sagadabeans]

He has to stop making so many babies then. 15 family members smh

[@nalimlattarai2873]

@@sagadabeans you didn’t say that for Americans

[@orbit1401]

I don't know if the people that star in these videos get compensation but it would be lovely to see the Business Insider team use some of the profits from the video to help Lucas and other small family farmers buy processing machines.

[@nova8585]

Unfortunately it's not that simple. At every stage, the people/companies involved are dealing with massive scales. Even if they got machines, no one would buy from them in such small quantities when they could buy in bulk for an insanely competitive price. It's like trying to sell a company your homemade orange juice when they can buy straight from Tropicana.

[@deathkitten7635]

@@nova8585 also refrigeration. They should try and grow cash crops that are less perishable like cashews or something.

[@ldelgg]

@@nova8585 yeah, sadly that is the case. I still think having the processing factories on brazillian soil (especially near the local farmers) is much better than we selling the fruit in bulk to foreign processors, though.

[@chloehennessey6813]

You’re pretty fast and loose with other peoples money

[@charlesficherwcoffeebreaks7521]

@@ldelgg quality over quantity Asé

[@worldcitizeng6507]

"We are poor but we are rich in spirits " the key to happiness 😊 Every time the media, celebrity promote a certain food, the farmers/producers don't benefit from it 😑 a few documentaries about avocado, salmon caused devastating effects on the communities. Look up salmon farming, it made me be extra careful when buying it

[@guptadagger896]

Thats the state of capitalism, exploiting the global south so that we can consume yet they see none of the money

[@yengsabio5315]

Oh, dear, I hear you! I'm a farmer. If I have not diversified my farming business, I would have left farming already. But then, I'll not leave farming. Someone has to put food on the table. Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines!

[@yengsabio5315]

@@julm7744 Let us deal with the "shame" first. I understand where it might be coming from considering the "low status" you've mentioned. Such status may be socially-imposed or self-inflicted. In my view, it's about 2 things: (1) paradigm/perspective; & (2) experience. (1) There must be a shift in paradigm/perspective to anyone who is 'ashamed' of farming. If anyone does not get off such a paradigm, then they'll be shameful forever. I am not ashamed of being a farmer. It's a noble profession that is equally cognitively & physically demanding much like other professions. I have a major degree in Agriculture, minor degree in Agricultural Economics. I'm now finishing my graduate degree in Animal Science. Having learned & continuously learning still, & having taken these degrees has helped me to have a better grasp of farming as not just a toil & a pain on the back to make ends meet; but, as a systematic convergence of interdisciplinary activities that will optimise use of scarce resources leading to efficient production on food & other farm produce. A farmer---to become sustainably & sufficiently productive---must be learned & be willing to continuously learn the Science & art of farming either formally (i.e., by getting a bachelor's degree, at least) or informally (i.e., through self-study, attending seminars/trainings/workshops, etc.). A farmer must adapt & needs to adapt with the changes in farming. And so on. (2) I have a positive experience about farming. My ancestors are able-bodied farmers. They were not formally educated about farming. But since they are able to read & write, they self-educated. They demonstrated to us that farming can be profitable & sustainable means of livelihood. Farming has brought their children to school to finish a degree. Same with us. As per experience, farming has not been traumatic for us. Sure, there are ups & downs in farming. Esp. here in the Philippines where we are beaten by at least 12 typhoons/hurricanes a year. That's a given. But generally, farming is a positive experience for us. I'll cut my reply here as it is already long. I'll add some later.

[@victorhopper6774]

@@yengsabio5315 to be a grain farmer in usa you need access to at least a million dollars worth of capital to barely get by so only fools in america think of farmers as poor.

[@yengsabio5315]

@@victorhopper6774 I understand, & I could be wrong here, farming in the USA is heavily subsidised by the federal government.

[@kezia-B95]

Soo many Westerners are quick to call "child labour" but in some cultures, we have to help our parents and are thought to learn what they do in order to help out

[@kickersayhello]

You are right. Every westerners needs to remember not all country are the same. Not all family lives in same condition. Myself are helping my family since when i were 8 years old. So what? As long we are working to help our family, there is nothing wrong. Remembered once Dave Chapelle says “standing between a man and his meal is a kin of killing him”.

[@luanaspa4400]

Yes, their hypocrisy is unbelievable as they control and pay their sweatshop workers peanuts to make their outrageously expensive high fashion name brand designer clothes and sneakers

[@stickyfox]

I thought acai berries were harvested by failed vanlife vloggers.

[@mattlloyd6651]

A rather ridiculous claim considering how many family farms in the U.S. still have the children out there helping as soon as they're able.

[@stickyfox]

In most of the United States small family businesses are taxed to death and have no other choice. It's unnecessary and if we didn't let corporations write their own laws the tax breaks would go to mom and pop shops instead of billion dollar companies like Walmart. Having to put the kids to work to make ends meet is nothing to be proud of. It's a shameful indicator of our failed economy.

[@FabioMarcineli]

I never saw a foreign news outlet explain so well about the Açaí industry and the Quilombola's reality, good job.

[@sr.liam17]

I believe that for family farms, it is acceptable for the parents to allow their children to harvest, as long as the kids are physically able and they consent. For large corporation farms, it is unacceptable.

[@aaronandcaitlinnelson5617]

Until recent times family farms relied on their children to contribute to the work.

[@toomanyjstoomanyrs1705]

I started working at around 6 years old. Emigrated to the USA and found strange how kids are overprotected here.

[@mehere8038]

Presumably kids won't work the plantations. Coconuts are harvested by monkeys, I would assume this will go the same way, as slave monkeys stolen from their mothers (who are murdered to steal their babies) & forced to work or beeten are much cheaper than kids

[@sr.liam17]

@@mehere8038 ayy, there has only been one company in Thailand I have heard of using monkeys to harvest coconuts. Are there more?

[@mehere8038]

@@sr.liam17 It's really not the type of thing they're going to advertise is it! I'm surprised there's even one company admitting to it, I would have thought all companies would set it up with subcontractors, so that they have no direct association to the monkeys & can deny even knowing it was happening. I don't know official numbers, I doubt anyone does, in reality though, I think it's reasonable to assume that any country with native monkeys suitable to do this work is going to have major problems with this, as it's just too tempting to use the monkeys in this way. I'd honestly suggest it's so effective using them that it's really not even worth attempting to stop it & they would be better off in regulating the practice & enforcing better animal welfare standards for the monkeys. If the monkeys are treated well & only work for a few hours a day, there's probably no big issue in having monkeys climb trees to get coconuts, it's only when they're being forced to work extreme hours & being tied up in a position where they'll die of strangulation if they don't stand on their back legs all night for weeks on end, just to cruelly strengthen their muscles & are being starved & beeten if they don't learn fast enough etc etc that there are problems. If they were treated as "service animals" & well monitored by regulating authorities & managed & loved & cared for, then it would probably make sense to allow poor people to work with their animals to increase their income & decrease their injury risks. Just look at how fast the monkeys are able to be up the trees & harvesting the coconuts. Humans just can't compete with that! That's why I'd be very surprised if it's not widespread - and if it's not, that's only cause people haven't thought of it & had time to implement it yet & it certainly will be within a few years

[@its_prince4real]

How sweet, he is such a pure hearted person. I wish him all the best👍 Love from India big brother 🙌🤝

[@charlesdeliberis239]

the first time I tryed authentic indian lamb curry was at new york's comic con. In 2018,and my mind was blown of the amount of spices goes into the cooking really flavorful and amazing

[@gilbertnicholas1582]

It's always refreshing to see people that aren't obsessed with material possessions just having enough for the family to eat and health makes them happy

[@adnanbezerra6014]

yeah, man. though it's sad that they live in such conditions, I can't help getting happy that they're so happy and glad. as we say here, deep Brazil still lives; not everything revolves around money and profit, you know?

[@bobcratchet3736]

I don’t think we can decide that they are happy without material possessions after watching an 11:45 KZbin video. In fact, I got the impression that would very much like to get more money for their crops. And what is money used for?

[@adnanbezerra6014]

@JPREET Dhillon that's because it is middle eastern indeed, but I'm 100% Brazilian. I simply don't know why my father chose to give me an Arab name, but he did :v

[@jceepoker3256]

All the people that live around them are though and they extort all the resources around them. If you see the main Amazon river basin where all of these products get shipped it’s disgusting. Literal shit is flowing down the river and you can see the forest on fire in many places.

[@rockyjohnson9243]

Thank you, to all the farmers that bring this to our table. we appreciate all your Hard work!

[@andrzejlewakowski8984]

Yeah…thanking man,sure…they bringing to your table for free. You sound like trying to bend over for some fruit on which your life depends on and future existence w/o it is death sentence for you and entire world.

[@nulnoh219]

It's a systemic problem for bottom of the supply chain. Acai, Chocolate, Coffee, Coconuts, etc... Expensive at the end of the chain, but dirt cheat at the start.

[@DanielFenandes]

Not cheat. It’s honest work

[@lucam.3111]

@@DanielFenandes o trabalho hj honesto é! Porém o que ele disse é que as pessoas na base desse trabalho são exploradas, e caso vc ache que os agricultores não são explorados vc é muito desinformado. Favor, não confundir quem colhe café/cacau e afins com o dono da terra. Esses são os primeiros a explorar.

[@DanielFenandes]

@@lucam.3111 foi uma piada zoando o erro de pronúncia dele se você não percebeu

[@DanielFenandes]

@@lucam.3111 chato pra carai vc hein

[@lucam.3111]

@@DanielFenandes então tá bom. Não, não tinha percebido o erro. Eu falo inglês, mas não tenho tanto conhecimento para corrigir as pessoas assim, pra mim a frase dele fez sentido. Não consigo identificar o erro. Foi mal, desconsidere meu comentário então.

[@xenondestiny]

That hit me hard when he said "how much?" Tough

[@tylernorby4939]

The man didn't not believe it at all, clearly thought he misheard him till he repeated it. I'm sure he was pondering his business for a while after as well.

[@norbut]

@@tylernorby4939 What about all those equipment and facilities. It's not as simple as an inflated price. There is huge operation and risk cost that were not accounted for.

[@tylernorby4939]

@@norbut I never implied there wasn't more cost, capital required or risk. I only stated that the man was in disbelief. You probably can't see it but profile pic is my business school, I'm not a fool who doesn't understand this shit.

[@thejuniorseas7683]

@@norbut Unless the farmers were to own the factories, you'll always have middlemen. The cost for machinery is incredibly expensive too.

[@TWEAKLET]

@@norbut not just those everyone seems to be ignoring the fact the fruit is according to the video 95% seed inedible at that

[@yeahboi7562]

I love how happy and contented Lucas is. We can certainly learn something from him. All the best.,

[@mcfarofinha134]

I'm from São Paulo, and for the longest time I had only tasted it in it's sweet form (really good btw). The first time I tried it in it's pure traditional form, I was shocked at how different, yet still delicious it really was. Hard to get outside of the Brazilian north, but I highly recommend it

[@Kawayoporu]

So your from sao paulo, do you have chinese brazilian or korean brazilian friends or any other Asians such as macanese, vietnamese or taiwanese etc or you have no Asian friends at all, because I didn't had much any? I read brazil have chinese people for 210 years meaning you have a million chinese and chinese descents there like peru or cuba for 2 centuries and koreans were just few decades old from 1962 for 60 years, you probably learned about how chinese came to brazil there.

[@kenfern2259]

@@Kawayoporu what does this have to with acai?

[@anacarolinalimatavares7928]

Finalmente um vídeo sobre o Brasil, seria interessante um vídeo sobre a Castanha do Pará também.

[@wilsonalberto8459]

Minor miss translation : "beneficiar", at 4:17 , doesn't mean benefit, it means "increase (agricultural) product value". Example: when sugar cane is processed into sugar, it has been "benefited". It helps to understand the farmer's struggle, since he lacks the tools to process (beneficiar) açai on his farm, he has to sell it at a lower price to those who do.

[@AlexandreG]

That's exactly what the word beneficiar means here. Que vão se dar bem. The person who really gonna benefit from it.

[@--Paws--]

I like that family's optimism. It seems they eat the acai like how cranberry is eaten, or even apple sauce, like a side or condiment to a dish.

[@carolinebertagliacampanhol4453]

Yeah, but traditional açaí it’s savory. I am from São Paulo and I have always had açaí with condensed milk, powder milk and fresh fruits, but that’s because the fruit it’s mixed with guaraná (Amazonian berry) syrup, but traditionally in the north part of the country it’s eaten savory as it is. The culinary in the north part of the country it’s very different of the rest of the country, and it’s hard to access as well. I have family members that have been in the north part of the country and tasted traditional açaí and according to their personal taste it tastes almost like dirt (not in bad dirty way, it’s more related to a very earthy taste)

[@film.Incorpofc]

​@@carolinebertagliacampanhol4453não tem gosto de terra não eu quase todo dia tomo açaí tradicional e e muito bom

[@memastarful]

Compassion for these hard working people 💜

[@LeoAn97]

The price of acaí in those regions goes below 50 cents of a dollar. And within the country goes about 2 dollars for the bowl of 700 ml. It impress me that it costs so much in the USA.

[@visekual6248]

Quite simply, fresh fruits need to be transported frozen in refrigerated containers and they still lose quality after about a month at storage and sea, so a high quality açaí needs to be transported by plane.

[@charlesficherwcoffeebreaks7521]

Love me some monavie active Asé

[@leolow2057]

That's how it works. Anything on your local / near distance might cost 10 times for others who stay far from it. Simple cost and distance relationship

[@deathkitten7635]

$15 is restaurant prices with toppings. Everything is expensive at a restaurant. You can buy it frozen at Walmart for $5

[@isabella0985]

Lol let me know where outside the nort region I can find 700ml for 2 dollars.... In Sao Paulo supermarkets it costs around 30 reais for 1kg. If you go to a restaurant it is easily 20 bucks per bowl

[@i--dont--know]

i could watch videos from this channel all day. i love this kind of content

[@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday]

Same here

[@fidelcatsro6948]

true indeed

[@dangiveon1972]

I am addicted to acai since first time I found it on the beach of Sao-Paulo State in Brazil back in the year 1998... I have heard that originally it was served as kind of salty soup at the native Amazon tribes. and that just around the the early 90ies it got it sweet version... I live now in Japan and get my Acai in the local super market without sugar and make it at home with Honey and Banana ! Just want to say Thank you for the local hard work farmers !

[@Henrique-dj1if]

O auge da ironia é assistir um documentário sobre o meu país em inglês.

[@malubankala152]

These people are legends, pure hard workers and my only question is what can be done so they benefit more that's all I'm interested in, Someone any one please help answer how how because it's so unfair honestly

[@Chanthaphoree]

WAIT ACAI IS A PALM?? that's so rad I had no idea

[@1gorSouz4]

Amazing video, i love how truthful and honest it is

[@wintermagebarthow8481]

Thank you for programs like this. Its a shame when people finally get a leg up, big business snatches the rug out from under their feet. Just like the palm oil farmers in Africa, or Salt harvestors.

[@web2yt488]

Depends. Supply from small farmers may not be enough to support the market. Hence industrialisation of farming. The later has the benefit of controlling resources, health and quality. Not trivial facets Bioreactors could move production to the source of demand. Leaving small farmers in this video with nothing.

[@timehathtcg]

"it's a rich community. We say we're poor, but we are rich in spirit" .... what a guy, hope he does well in the future

[@cauwenberghsroeland8607]

We are poor but pure. Misery is faith of greed...

[@Winterseeker]

This is how to report - centering tradition, culture, Indigenous knowledge, history and sustainability. Thank you.

[@luanlopes9415]

Lucas Nogueira is a random Brazilian, not all people in Amazon are natives

[@bemficaa]

I love Açaí, i'm glad to see it here. Family Insider, talk about the Brazil nut ("Castanha do Pará")

[@zchoicez]

I wish this man well! thank you for explaining!

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

this sort of monetization of fruits from mixed forests in the amazon and similar places where forests are threatened by more destructive sorts of economic use should be supported and regulated, because that's how you make it possible for people to live there who are motivated to protect the forests. brazil nuts are another good example, those traditionally come from natural forests like this, too. of course there needs to be some oversight to prevent the people making money from the fruits from increasing the number of fruit-bearing trees too much at the expense of other plants. but generally, fruits from trees that grow well in mixed forests are an ideal way to get some economic use out of mostly natural forests.

[@tiffanylee3634]

Thank you so much for sharing his story. It provides insight, knowledge and appreciation for this nutritious fruit.

[@thatguy5801]

Sea buckthorn is more nutritious and more easy to grow, let alone needing to ship 4000 miles.

[@princensukwini1628]

All the best to these families. Also of great importance is that there is no deforestation happening.

[@chuckwhite3033]

Thank you for those who work hard to get Acai to the world. I just tried it recently and it's amazing! Expensive (as I can see why) but worth it occasionally.

[@ChristineTran]

We just paid $15 for a 24 oz. bowl of Açaí at a coffee shop in Honolulu, HI. The line was out the door and remains this way all day.

[@1gorSouz4]

Here (southeast Brazil) i've payed 30 reais in about 2 liters of açaí sorbet, that's about $5,76 in a direct conversion.

[@cauwenberghsroeland8607]

Have a place in Honolulu? If there is water enough, give me a job, will come to plant açai. .... first, little harvest, 4 years. Becomes "enough" after 7 years. Maximum from about 11 to 40 years. After, can't say, not old enough to have seen....

[@williamwoolcock]

Does it grow in Hawaii? Very common, esp. Bubble drinks.

[@bpt13242]

Interesting coz in S.A🇿🇦here we have trees similar to those but it's fruit is yellow in color.maybe I shud take them for lab testing. We(South Africa🇿🇦) share a lot with Brazil🇧🇷,in climate,fruit produces,etc

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

well, it's been quite a while, but africa and south america used to be connected, as you can still make out by the shape of their coast lines. that was a long enough time ago for a lot of evolution to take place, but palms in particular are rather archaeic plants, so I wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't evolved apart that much.

[@Robotdoge01]

what is the name of the south african tree?

[@bpt13242]

@@Robotdoge01 im not sure but is part of palm trees(date palm)

[@BeyondBalloonsNamibia]

I have eaten an açaí before but it’s not the same as dates. But the trees do look the same because I remember bringing it up that even in Namibia we have the same but just in yellow/orange color

[@bpt13242]

@@BeyondBalloonsNamibia do u think it(Açai tree) will grow nd produce in our areas though??

[@tiamelancholyjeoncockity]

their community is just wholesome af 😭❤

[@krishedstrom7271]

Wish I could get you guys some money! I have only had açai juice twice. Interesting flavour!

[@spharion7988]

Sr.Lucas, parabens!...sei que pode lhe parecer estranho o que vou dizer: O senhor e 100% mais rico e humano que qualquer quer um que vive no tal do "Mundo Moderno". Deus esta te abencoando!

[@f.calamo6658]

Deus abençoe o Brasil.

[@yououtuber4176]

Amém

[@licianatomas5539]

Deus abencoe meu povo negro que sem eles nada funciona nesse pais ai,pobre negros sofrem tanto e ainda Sao descriminadaos pelo proprio branco brasileiro🙄🙄🙄🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@yououtuber4176]

@@licianatomas5539 Para de falar mentiras. Parece que vc assiste demais rede Globo

[@EstranhoComum]

@@licianatomas5539 Para de generalizar

[@ariii9870]

*feels bad* *goes to starbucks* : “Hi can I get a strawberry açaí lemonade refresher”

[@golmatol6537]

First time hearing about Acai ... fascinating report and total respect to those climbers of those trees.

[@carlospinto5402]

Pure Açaí is very bitter. Industrialized version is just another ice cream, another sugar bomb. Also the pure chocolate is very bitter due polyphenols, which are present in both Acai berries and cocoa beans. Pure açaí leaves our lips dyed black for a long time after eating it.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Sounds silly the hype when in north america blueberries are native don;t need sweetener, healthy, and very very high yield and all of the berry is edible. Wish pawpaw had this hype so we could at least get it frozen.

[@rebeccaa.3121]

I have eaten pure dried Acai and I also thought it was quite bitter. And I use pure cocoa powder without any additives for my smoothies in small amounts.

[@jeanguimaraes5527]

Here in Brazil we never heard about those “medicine properties” of açaí

[@charlesficherwcoffeebreaks7521]

Shalom Greetings Grandrising! I love açaí it helps with my 1k stealth squats also when combined with wolf berry such as Monavie Active it helps with my dreams- I noticed this during highschool at Klein Collins in Spring Texas that after training in football and 200 push-ups before bed my dreams showed me jumping over a lawn I used to walk pass after school; when I woke up I didn’t feel my usual soreness from my push up regimen of 200 before bed. Peace love and light from Las Vegas and N.O.L.A

[@presterjohn1697]

Is it possible that the west manufactured the benefits of açaí?

[@monhi64]

@@charlesficherwcoffeebreaks7521 wtf lol

[@monhi64]

@@presterjohn1697 umm I mean it’s definitely pretty healthy comparatively. Blown outta proportions for sure, but that’s how marketing works and idk how to even fix that lol

[@presterjohn1697]

@@monhi64 It's really unfixable within a system of capitalism. I'm a branding professional and a 30 year whole foods enthusiast. Manufacturing value well in excess of actual facts to sell products is what the system does best.

[@vernelledouglas1801]

People sacrifice so much to feed others and never get the full benefit. I am grateful for the food I eat and try not to waste it. Blessings to food producers everywhere and thanks.

[@joeyb60]

Every video I watch from this channel is the same, “even though this trend is increasing. The people at the bottom get nothing.”

[@danielschick7554]

The superfood crazy is a blight upon the world.

[@mangalbob956]

Muito agradecimos pra os povos Paraenses.

[@osmonddsilva1577]

Eye opener!

[@sytran666]

Looks look fun climbing the trees

[@nourahmad538]

I'm gonna say something that's really out of context, but I would love to get to know Lucas and his family. I would love to get to experience their culture and try their food someday.

[@iarasilva2131]

I am Brazilian and would like to visit him someday also

[@fidelcatsro6948]

@@iarasilva2131 Wow even a Brazilian hasnt met him!

[@hypebrain4150]

Just come and visit. I have never met Lucas but I have been to the communities in the region. It’s a short boat trip from Belém. Where I was born. You would also be surprised about the food diversity there. The massive immigration we had from Syria & Lebanon also means we have killer Arab food, along with Japanese, and of course, Brazilian a mix of all them. Now I feel homesick!

[@enzonavarro8550]

@@fidelcatsro6948 there are 200 million people here, it's not a surprise at all

[@pinkelephants1421]

The environmental footprint of this product is huge! All those single use plastics, shipping long distances to international markets and the amount of energy required for processing and refrigeration can't help but mean a high level of greenhouse gas emissions. The small producers featured in this video appear to do so in a sustainable way but I noticed the mention of yet another trend towards monocultural production and, my guess is, deforestation to accommodate such plantations.

[@andrzejlewakowski8984]

Yeah,you right.They all polluting. By the way-don’t the Pink Elephants pollute also the Mother Earth - GAYA,just in the name of EXISTENCE rights ? Or they just don’t exist at all?

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Plastic is not an issue unless the country has no waste management. You are peddling new world order climate control absurdity. All the waste of humans of all civilization has been tallied to only be the size of a mountain, one. There is no climate waste issue other than no waste management.

[@enzonavarro8550]

Oh yeah, the enviromental footprint that ALL PRODUCTS KNOWN BY HUMAN KIND HAVE

[@pinkelephants1421]

@@enzonavarro8550 This is true. But that doesn't mean we should not seek to do better as we move forward in our quest to protect the blue marble floating through space that we, and 10's of 1,000's of other lifeforms call home; there is no planet B as of yet.... You can only crap on your own doorstep for so long before life becomes untenable.

[@nevs30]

Utmost respects! God bless them.

[@OrganicAlumination]

Thank you so much I'm drinking acai right now with guanabana and moringa

[@aaronandcaitlinnelson5617]

I’ll enjoy açaí even more now knowing all the hard work and pride that goes into making it!

[@mushroomwitch4765]

It’s truly a shame that producers see so little benefit from all of their hard work. I hope things can change, within the coming decades…

[@davidali7664]

It's not really the producers fault. It's tricky. Because they live in a lower class economy they can't afford such things as machinery and equipment to process it and store it etc. So they can only be paid for the harvest. A hypothetically if they refuse to harvest, outsiders can just buy the land and send their own workers. It is a crummy situation

[@honeybunch5765]

Such a beautiful place, so lush.

[@varungupta2610]

Rich community.. rich in spirits.. wow.. Salute to their spirit..

[@thedarknightme]

A 32oz (946ml) Acai juice is $40-45 here in the Philippines. That is quite expensive. I have never had it, though. I am intrigued with how it tastes.

[@yverak5504]

It tastes good and really is a health food,A friend once gave me a bottle,I woke up feeling energized and feeling good for 3mths after,I can't find it anywhere since.

[@thedarknightme]

@@yverak5504 Maybe soon I get to try it. Thank you for that information. I really wanted to try it but its quite expensive.

[@amamam95]

Açaí in it's pure form have a bitter taste, like cocoa or coffee. But it's way less bitter than those other berries comparatively

[@JamieDickey]

40-45 what? Pure juice should be expensive. It tastes unique and amazing. My favorite juice ever.

[@beatrizcascelli]

So much love for my beautiful country. Brazil is AMAZING!

[@frederickacker5379]

Beautiful Storie. Thank You.

[@millsjb4201]

Give the harvesters more... they're very essential for this industry.

[@rayhangeorge1411]

These vids are nice

[@user-nc4cx4gw2z]

Hi there 👋

[@michelelefebure9924]

It infuriates me to see the damage that humans do on so many levels. The destruction to the environment, creatures and the people and their culture, livelihood, etc all for these trends (some going back generations ex. shark fins) The bottom line is the all mighty dollar. Unfortunately the people needing and deserving of the money never prosper.

[@jesuslover5968]

We have a choice to have heaven on earth but people in this world choose greed and power. This is why I will never trust other humans

[@markbitz1599]

So get off the internet, get rid of your transportation, etc. to do otherwise makes you part of the problem.

[@erichroach7395]

saw some of these trees in Florida they were like 10 feet away from the balcony of the resort i was in they weren't ready yet but pretty cool to see

[@raiderfrankdatank]

Thanks for your service

[@divinelove4604]

Wish there was a way to create Acai berry so it does not go bad fast, to make it resistant to going bad.

[@charlesficherwcoffeebreaks7521]

Shalom Greetings Grandrising! Monavie makes an active gel that can be consumed such as a yogurt shot, it have açaí in it

[@Saamniferu]

There is! It just doesnt exist yet. It's called bioengineering and it can change trees permanently to have a desired trait (Long lasting berries)

[@mac9733]

Gmo açai

[@fidelcatsro6948]

freeze dried

[@popeyedog1087]

Just eat veggies from your own region and leave the amazon alone

[@medroso13]

I have tried açaí many times and is very healthy and delicious 😋. However, the fact most açaí profit goes to the middle man/company is heartbreaking. These farmers are always the one being exploited.

[@brucelee5576]

What you exploitation others call opportunity.

[@deborahsacco186]

Thank you for this insight.

[@debbiemarquis3231]

Those new plantations run the risk of diseases..Lucas own are safer because of his permaculture practice..

[@Filipe_Veras]

I think it’s great that açaí is getting the popularity it deserves. Sure, it also brings problems and clashs of all kinds, but I guess this is a necessary part of the development. Some years ago EMBRAPA developed a variety that is much shorter than the natural occurring palm, which makes the harvest safer.

[@scyllajk2757]

Did they also make acai that costs less water to produce because no one cares about the ppl that fall from the tree.

[@toffoliausfloripa]

@@scyllajk2757 water evaporates and fall again, it's called water cycle, don't be a tinfoil nuthead pls

[@scyllajk2757]

@@toffoliausfloripa Oh damn, thats pretty cool. I always thought god was pissing on us.

[@toffoliausfloripa]

@@scyllajk2757 you're welcome for the enlightenment

[@yeaaa8660]

Wow . This is a beautiful site . Reminds me of home !

[@pedro101783]

God bless those people and their way of living

[@augustubrunu8037]

O Brasil vai mostrar que pode ser com o seu esforço e a boa vontade estrangeira o país mais desenvolvido do mundo, com a melhor metodologia, a população mais inteligente e criativa, proporcionando um ecossistema que fortaleça a natureza, a qualidade de vida e o melhor estado mental e motivacional para quem acreditar e se juntar a nós, viva o futuro!

[@margaritaannie3663]

95% of trader lose learn to hold. No one goes from broke to rich without market pain. Stop selling and buying on emotion. Buy. Hold. Get through the pain. In 10years you"ll do great. Don't buy meme coins.

[@houstonjones4133]

@Rose Anna Investing in crypto is very volatile and risky which is why most successful investors trade with professional brokers

[@alexanderjacob7170]

Nothing beats engaging an expert in any trade, selfishness and greed has deterred many from doing this and they ended up running a huge loss

[@lucyleah5138]

@@alexanderjacob7170 You're right! Investing in Crypto market isn't a myth. A few years back I felt it was impossible but here l am today...all l had was God and a dedicated broker.

[@wyattjack2460]

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[@wyattjack2460]

he's one of the best when it comes to trading Cryptocurrencies.

[@lovev9904]

I'm an Independent Latino. It's profitable the same way as poor food now consider "Superfoods" CHIA SEED, GUANABANA (soursop), and QUINOA.

[@adambamf9365]

i get the feeling those boys have fun with there exciting job and it produces more positives than negatives on their lives

[@adnanbezerra6014]

11:10 eu tenho é dó dos gringo que nunca comeram uma pratada de arroz com feijão e frango dessas. Deu fome aqui, uma cara deliciosa

[@toshmarie3499]

love his spirit! but its sad 2 see as w/many other farmers & agricultural products they get paid next 2 nuttin

[@magas4002]

😋 Obrigado!

[@LuckyMoniroth]

beautiful forests and power fruit

[@amazon4716]

Farmers don't cash in... surprised about the comment from business insider... business sense. Transportation cost money Fuel cost money Processing costs money Electricity costs money Store costs money Employee wages, insurance, license, Electricity, gas, etc. Cost money. Reason why we spend $15 or so a bowl. People don't going in to business to lose money.

[@lindatullos9430]

Exactly, the product isn't the same product as it was when the farmer brought it to sale. It doesn't last long either unless it's processed and frozen (all those things cost money) Then there is transport(those people deserve to be paid also) and the store you buy the product from has overhead costs to offer you that product that someone served you-or shouldn't they be paid too?)

[@kratos692]

Eat food that grows locally in right proportions and right season and you will realise every food is a super food. A banana from your backyard is way nutritious than an imported avocado.

[@DIETRICHCICCONE]

What a lovely family.

[@medardbitangimana4580]

Yo Insider, This is documentary grade stuff 🙌🏾

[@ESSBrew]

to be fair, all farmers get the smallest cut of profit. Even in America, many farmers are barely scrapping by. If not for the government, many many more American farmers would be losing their farms every year.

[@tomaszszupryczynski5453]

like dutch soon they will lose all that, so they can promote pedo gates farms

[@imulligan2492]

Those large plantations are literally displacing many animals and forest creatures. These are real dangers taking place in the Amazon caused by large investors who only answer to shareholders and not the eath.

[@ernee100]

"We say we are poor, but we are rich in spirit." Wise words. I'd rather be rich in spirit than in dollar.

[@OrganicAlumination]

I thank them so much for their contribution to the world by risking their lives. Honestly like from Toy Story "You have saved our lives we are eternally grateful"

[@ilafbasit5026]

viva o brasil, essa é a nossa bela cultura

[@AugustusAsgeir]

Mad respect for these people, I really appreciate em I love açai. Hell if there's a way I'd be down to learn how they do it Edited: they said light weight... I'm around 1.87M (6 foot 1.5in ~6 ft 2) and like 79 KG (~176lbs) so maybe not lol I'll leave it to the experts. But learning about how everything is getting exploited is most definitely a tragedy thats becoming more common today

[@cauwenberghsroeland8607]

There are several tools...anyhow, you remain under the ripe bunch, and that bunch is under the crown : it will not break easily. More dangerous is when yoy trie to keep yourselve on a leaf, like some do "jumping" from one tree to another : there the crown can break , and you gone... Have to remain completely beneath where the ripening bunch is attached ...

[@marjavainio6761]

Will God bless you and your family 🙏❤️

[@CHINO5CDS]

look at how close the fruit is to the sun, that is why it is so good true energy

[@ludovica271]

The Açai tree looks a lot like Pinang from Sumatra, Indonesia.. but I never see people climb the Pinang tree to harvest it.

[@cauwenberghsroeland8607]

In Suriname you have an important Javanese community. In local Creol languages as well as in Kréol of french Guayana, the call it : "pina-boong" ( boong = tree ), "pinot", "pinotière"... But I don't have any idea about what is the Pinang of Sumatra.