Recent Email Questions About Acai Trees

I live in Nevada and am interested to know if Acai Palm will survive here.  I am pretty sure it won't, but need your expert opinion. Also, where are you located?
Your location in Henderson, NV has plenty of wonderful sunlight but is a bit dry. You would need a greenhouse to keep your Acai trees happily humid and protected from the drying wind. Your area also experiences some night time low temperatures from about October thru March but the amount of solar radiation in your area makes a solar heated greenhouse quite feasible.
I would expect you would have no trouble selling all the Acai berries you could grow in nearby Las Vegas.
We are located in Florida.

How long until the palm will produce fruit? My assumption is that it is a lengthy process. How old is a tree before it generally begins producing fruit?
Acai palms can begin to bear fruit as early as three years from germination. Our trees are 2 years old when shipped.

I am interested in purchasing some trees. I would like to keep them in pots and limit the size to 8 feet or shorter. Is this possible and if so what size do the pots need to be?
Acai palms will many times start to produce berries when the palm reaches about 5'-6' tall. Thinning out Acai palm stalks that reach 7' will severely limit your fruit production. We recommend a growing space that will allow the Acai palm to reach at least 10'-12' in height.
A 1 gallon container will support an Acai palm to a height of about 3'
A 3 gallon container will support an Acai palm to a height of about 5'
A 10 gallon container will support an Acai palm to a height of about 8'
A 35 gallon container will support an Acai palm to a height of about 12'
These sizes and heights are approximations and are subject to the specific conditions of your growing environment.

I have 21 acres of land in south central Florida. I don't have any greenhouse facilities, but I was wondering if I could grow Acai palms here outdoors. We don't get very much cold weather here, and when we do, it's not sustained. Next question is whether or not there would be a market for the trees. Ideally, I'd like to use my acreage to raise the trees and then sell them at wholesale prices to retail nurseries.
Many growers in that area grow tropical plants in shade houses as tall as 30' for the northern interior plant market. Unfortunately, every few years a hard freeze comes down from up north and overnight will devastate any unprotected vegetable and nursery crops, sometimes (rarely) the freeze can extend as far south as the Florida Keys. You have many options there for plant protection including thermal blankets, field heaters etc. Your best bet is to consult with the County Agriculture Extension Service. They are always the experts for growing conditions in their local area. Just remember that for maximum health and productivity, the Acai palm likes a minimum of 70 degrees F.
Regarding the market for Acai palm trees, we have found many people are interested in growing their own Acai. The secret is to deliver the very finest product you can for a fair price while providing exceptional customer service. That has always been our goal at Acai Farms.

How tall will these Acai Palm trees grow?
The ultimate height an Acai palm will reach depends on many factors. If kept in a container, the palm will be somewhat dwarfed because of the constriction on it's roots. Much like what happens to a tree trained as a bonsai. If grown in the ground the Acai palm's height will be influenced by the availability of light and nutrients and the degree of cultivation. Wild varieties of Acai will grow to 80' if left unchecked. Cultivated varieties such as Euterpe Oleracea "Para Dwarf" will grow much smaller. In all varieties, fruiting starts when the palm is about 5'-6' tall.

We recommend you follow the same cultivation practices followed by commercial Acai growers. As the palm matures it will sprout additional stalks at it's base. Allow the original palm stalk to reach a manageable height for harvesting. The height is up to you but we suggest about 10'-12'. At this height you may wish to cut out this stalk and depend on the smaller "sucker" palm stalks for fruit. It has been determined that removing the original stalk actually increases fruit production on the remaining stalks. As the additional stalks grow too tall, they may be removed as well and be replaced by their "sucker" stalks. And so on and so on. Any palm stalks you remove should be harvested for their "Heart-of-Palm" center. The dwarf variety of Euterpe Oleracea is called "para dwarf." Named after the Amazon region of Para, a state in Brazil where most Acai comes from. Please see: http://www.acaifarms.com/Amazon-Acai-Adventure.shtml

This variety of Euterpe is not officially recognized as a sub species. It is used to describe the Euterpe Oleracea palms used widely in commercial cultivation verses the Euterpe Oleracea palms growing wild in the jungle. Some consider this palms compact growth to be caused by nursery management and careful cultivation rather than an actual dwarfism of the species. The Acai palms sold by Acai Farms are grown from seed harvested from these cultivated Euterpe Oleracea palms.

How do I process the Berries? If I am to sell a crop eventually... what suggestions would I give to my customers about processing or how to use/eat/drink them? Do you have any recipe's for using the berries? I am using Monavie right now and have actually gotten some great results for my ecxema and digestive issues, but as you know its very expensive and I'd rather have unpasteurized. Will the plants need a strong source of sunlight throughout the year to fruit? (aka grow lights etc) I live in ohio and it gets real grey here half the year.?
I am happy that you are getting good health results from Monavie products. You are right though to want unprocessed Acai juice for the extra potency.  
In regard to the suitability of growing conditions in your area for Acai, I suggest you visit some local Botanical Garden Greenhouses. They no doubt are growing many palms that require growing conditions similar to the Acai palm, Euterpe Oleracea.
Every order for Acai palms is accompanied with "How to Grow Acai" which contains:
-Complete Instructions for Growing Your Acai Tree Anywhere in the U.S.A.
-Instructions for Growing Fresh Acai Berries in Your Own Home or Greenhouse.
-Bonus Information About Growing Your Profitable Local Acai Business.
-Why Your Fresh Acai Berries are So Much More Valuable Than Frozen Pulp or Freeze Dried Reconstituted Juice from South America.
 
The berries are most potent for 2-3 days after harvesting. They are fully potent while on the tree of course. After 3 days the potency starts to decline. The older berries are still nutritionally significant, just not as good as when first picked. Handling factors such as storage out of direct sunlight at cooler temperatures will slow down nutrient degradation.
Acai juice preparation is fairly simple. Here is an abbreviated description for making Acai juice. First wash the berries. Then soak the berries for an hour in an amount of clean water equal to the amount of berries. Rub the berries together in the water to dislodge the skin and fruit from the seed. Strain the skin and seeds from this fruit pulp. Acai juice is now ready to serve.
You can get additional nutrients if you leave the skin in the fruit pulp and grind it up in a blender. The skin contains oils that have even more health benefits than the filtered juice. Also don't throw away the seeds; you can sell them on Ebay.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acai Trees

What is the Acai berry Fruit?
The scientific name for acai or açaí is Euterpe Oleracea.  This fruit is round with a dark purple color that resembles a grape but even darker.  This berry is broadly used in ice cream, energy drinks, energy bars with granola, and in Brazil its pulp is consumed directly or in juices.

Where exactly are Acai Trees found growing naturally?
Acai Trees grow in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil. Most harvesters deliver their fruit by dugout canoe or riverboat to the city of Belem at the mouth of the Amazon River.

Do the Acai Trees grow wild?
They all used to and a lot still do, but large areas of the Amazon rain forest have been slashed and burned to make room for Acai Tree plantations.

If I grow my own Acai will I help save the rain forests?
Most certainly yes. The less demand for Amazon Acai fruit, the less need for more Amazon Acai plantations.

What benefits could I expect to experience by consuming fresh Acai?
Here is a brief list of the reported benefits from eating fresh Acai:

• More energy/stamina
• Enhanced digestion
• Improved Mental Focus
• Sleeping more soundly 
• All the nutrients originate from one berry.
• Acai contains more proteins than an average egg.
• Acai contains a high dosage of lipids which provides you the needed energy to help you get through the day.
• Acai berry is an all in "one-stop" Multi-Vitamin Product.
• Acai contains important minerals like iron, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.
• Acai has all natural Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.
• Better sexual function
• Acai has demonstrated to have up to 33 times the Antocyanine than red wine grapes.
• Acai has a high level of fibers that is good for elderly and for people who have problems with digestive organs.
• Acai has two essential fatty acids known as Omega 6 (Linoleic acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic acid). Research shows that these fatty acids maintain normal cholesterol levels.
• Research has shown that these Anti-Oxidants help regulate normal cholesterol levels.
• Acai's Anti-Oxidant factors play a large role in maintenance of vascular cardiac system, which is important for better blood circulation.
• Acai is considered one of the richest nutritive fruits from the Amazon or the world for that fact.
• An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contractions and regeneration.
• More bio-active then liquid freeze dried versions of Acai
• Very low Sugar content for a fruit
• Cleansing and Detoxing your body
• Boost your Immune System

What are Free Radicals and Antioxidants?
We are all made up of atoms. Atoms that have a full outer shell of electrons tend to be happy, peaceful and inert atoms. They tend not to enter into chemical reactions and enjoy a mellow life in your body.
Atoms that do NOT have a full outer shell of electrons are unhappy and unstable. Something is missing in their life - and they very badly want to get another electron so they can be stable and inert. These unstable atoms are called - Free Radicals.
Free radicals tend to move quickly to try to steal an electron from whatever molecule happens to be around them. Of course, whoever they steal an electron from becomes a new free radical and the process is like a domino effect.
Free radicals are not evil or bad - in moderation. Our body performs many functions and there will always be some free radicals created. However, if the level of free radicals gets too high in the body, you can run into major problems. Numerous diseases and health issues have been linked to high levels of free radicals.
One of the more common types of free radicals is oxygen free radicals. These are oxygen atoms missing an electron. You know that rust you see on the side of your car - well the same thing basically happens inside our body. Oxidative stress is what it is called when oxygen free radicals start to cause damage in your body.

What causes Free Radicals?
Breathing, eating, moving - basically living! Yes, basically any stress we put on our body can cause free radicals. While obvious things like polluted air, smoking, stressful events and unhealthy foods can cause free radicals - many "healthy" activities can also create free radicals. Almost any type of exercise will put stress on our body - we all know the saying "no pain, no gain". Well, all this stress on our muscles creates free radicals. How do you turn a free radical into a harmless cell? You give the free radical the extra electron it so desperately wants. What substance can supply this extra electron? You guessed it - antioxidants. Antioxidants are any substances that prevent or slow the oxidation process. Remember, free radicals cause oxidation - and antioxidants prevent oxidation. Antioxidants work by donating an electron to a free radical so it becomes a stable oxygen molecule.

What is ORAC?
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. ORAC measures the ability of just about any substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in the test tube. In short, ORAC is a lab assay that can measure the antioxidant activity of any substance and give it a number. The higher the ORAC number - the stronger the antioxidant properties of the substance.
National Institute on Aging developed the ORAC method and the US Department of Agriculture and Brunswick Labs have been instrumental in perfecting the ORAC assay procedure and testing various foods to determine ORAC levels.
While the exact science behind ORAC gets beyond the scope of this article, it is clear that if you want foods with greater antioxidant properties, you look for foods with high ORAC levels. The USDA recommends we consume 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units daily. In truth, 80% of the population is consuming less than 1,000 ORAC units a day. The USDA recommended "5-a-day" fruit and vegetable servings will give you an ORAC score of about 1,750 units.
Fruits and vegetables tend to have the highest ORAC values. Per 100 grams - Apples score a 218, Bananas 221, blueberries 2,400. And what about fresh Acai? Fresh Acai has an amazing 5,500 ORAC score

How about Anthocyanins?
Have you ever seen beautiful purple flowers? How about a deep red grape or a bright red Fuji apple? If you answered yes (and if you said no - stop reading this article and go out and enjoy nature more!) then you have seen anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments that plants and fruits synthesize. Anthocyanins give plants and fruits their beautiful pigmentation - but it is not all about looks. Anthocyanins can act as a sunscreen for plants and in fruits the bright color attracts animals which feast on the fruits and in the process disperse the seeds. However, the aspect of Anthocyanins that is of most interest in regard to the Acai fruit is their antioxidant properties.
Fruits, such as the Acai berry, develop high levels of anthocyanins because they have very strong antioxidants properties and can quench the free radicals. Here is the interesting part - the antioxidant properties of anthocyanins are maintained even after they are eaten by another organism. This is why fruits with bright pigmentation tend to have the great ORAC values - they are loaded with anthocyanins! Yes, you guessed it - Acai berries, like red wine, have a tremendous concentration of anthocyanins.

How is Acai like Red Wine in regard to Anti-Oxidants?
Have you every heard that a glass of red wine everyday is good for the heart? This is because of the Anthocyanins in the grape. Acai is also very rich in Anthocyanins, an antioxidant substance that help fight the cholesterol and free radical. It is not by accident that the color of the Acai is similar to the color of red wine.
The French have a diet very rich in cheese, coffee, nicotine, sugar and white flour. With this type of diet you would expect the French to have a very high rate of heart disease however, the exact opposite is true. The ability of the French to consume a heart clogging diet and yet have a very low rate of heart disease has been labeled the French Paradox.
Researchers now believe they have the reason for the "French Paradox" - anthocyanins! The French drink a significant amount of red wine and the red wine grape, due to its anthocyanins is what is believed to be responsible for the very low incidence of heart disease. While red wine has a good quantity of anthocyanins, the Acai berry has over 30 times the anthocyanins as red wine.  

Does Acai have fat in it?
Let's face it - fat is not a pretty word. Most people would think that the phrase "fat and healthy" is an oxymoron. However, when you start talking about Omega fatty acids you realize that the right fats can be very healthy and beneficial.
The three most common forms of Omega Fatty Acids are Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9. While it is beyond the scope of this article to go into the full chemistry of fatty acids, suffice it to say that significant research has shown numerous health benefits to a diet high in unsaturated omega fatty acids. In fact, on September 8, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave "qualified health claim" status to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids, stating that supportive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Acai is an excellent source of Omega fatty acids.