Euterpe oleracea is a species of the Palm family Arecaceae, native to South America. It grows readily, but not exclusively, in swampy areas, where few species survive. It has several uses.
Acai is a very important food for the inhabitants of the Amazon, where it is consumed since pre-Columbian times. It is grown in the Amazon, but also in other Brazilian States.
He has been on the Brazilian domestic market in the 1980s and 1990s. It is sold on the beaches in the form of sorbet.
Today, the growing demand for the acai in the developed countries and the rest of the Brazil related to its strong antioxidant upped the price of the food. The rise of more than 500% of the price has very negative effects on the power of Amazonian families. They can no longer buy the acai, reserved for export.
It was recently discovered that certain polyphenols of this Palm were capable of in vitro apoptosis of HL-60 Leukemic cells.
The acai is also used to produce palm hearts fresh or canned possibly (but most of the world production is obtained with Bactris gasipaes).
The leaflets being flexible, you can braid them and make roofs.
