Contact
Harvesting açaí is a key step in ensuring the fruit’s quality. It relies on local expertise, passed down through generations in the Amazon, and on very specific harvesting conditions.
From the moment the harvesters climb the palm trees to the first steps after harvesting, every action has a direct impact on the freshness, texture, and nutritional qualities of the açaí.
Here are the 7 key steps in the açaí harvest, along with Nossa!’s commitments to ensuring quality, positive social impact, and sustainability.
How does the acai grow?
First of all, the açaí—a fruit with numerous health benefits—is prized for its nutritional value. The açaí comes from a palm tree that grows naturally in the floodplains of the Amazon.
Before being enjoyed as an acai bowl, smoothie, or juice—which are simply different ways of preparing it—this fruit undergoes a long and meticulous process. Its intense flavor and unique texture are the result of traditional expertise and well-managed logistics.
We guarantee full traceability from the harvest area, and here are our commitments:
- Our acai is certified organic, and a portion of our production is certified Fair Trade (Fair for Life standard). 100% of our acai is harvested in the forest, from plots managed using an agroforestry model.
- Our acai is selected for its taste, color, and aroma. We de-seed the fruit within 24 to 48 hours after harvest to preserve all its flavor and nutritional qualities.
- The factories we work with adhere to the highest standards of quality and food safety (FSSC 22000 or IFS certifications).
When you choose Nossa açaí, you’re choosing a healthy, premium product while also supporting the Amazon and its peoples.
The Different Stages of Acai Production
After harvesting, the açaí must be handled quickly to preserve its quality. Since the fruit is very delicate, each step is carefully monitored to prevent any deterioration.
From the selection of the berries to the initial processing, the process follows a series of rigorous steps designed to ensure a stable, safe product that remains true to the original fruit.
Here are the different stages of acai production:
Check for ripeness
Açaí can only be harvested at a specific time. Pickers watch the color of the fruit: when it turns dark purple, almost black, it is considered ripe.
At this stage, the berries have reached their full potential in terms of flavor, texture, and nutritional value. Harvesting them too early or too late directly affects the quality of the final product.
Climbing a Palm Tree
Acai berries grow in clusters on palm trees, at a height of between 2 and 10 meters above the ground. To harvest them, pickers use a pole or climb the trees. To climb the trees, acai pickers need only a piece of rope tied around their feet.
In the past, these pieces of rope were made from acai leaves rolled up and then tied into a circle; this tool is called a “peconha,” which is where the name for the acai harvester, the “peconheiro,” comes from.
Every year, Nossa! is out in the field during harvest season, working directly with its partner cooperatives.
Cut the bunches
Once at the top of the palm tree, the harvester cuts the clusters of berries using a knife or a hook.
Each cluster can weigh several kilograms, sometimes as much as 10 kg. The movement must be precise to avoid damaging the fruit or the palm tree, and to ensure the clusters fall safely to the ground.
Collect and Sort the Fruit
The bunches fall to the ground, usually onto a tarp or an open area. The pickers then detach the berries from the branches.
An initial sorting is performed on-site to remove damaged, overripe, or substandard fruit. This step is essential to ensure a healthy starting point from the very beginning.
Store in baskets
The selected berries are then placed in traditional baskets, often made of natural fibers.
Unlike airtight containers, these containers allow the fruit to breathe and prevent it from getting squashed. This also reduces the risk of premature fermentation.
Transportation
The baskets are carried on foot by the harvesters through the forest and then along the rivers, sometimes for several kilometers.
The route may include sections along rivers or over rough terrain. This stage requires time and good logistical planning to transport the fruit quickly.
Deliver to the collection point
The berries are then transported, often by boat, to a collection point or a cooperative.
They are sold quickly so they can be processed by local processing facilities. This timeframe is crucial: açaí begins to spoil just a few hours after harvest, which is why it must be processed quickly (usually within 24 hours).
Our team in Brazil followed every step of the açaí harvest, right on the ground in the Amazon. From picking the berries at the top of the palm trees to transporting them, this video gives you a firsthand look at how the harvest takes place.
Check out our video explaining the acai harvest
Transport to the factory
Once harvested, the acai berries are quickly transported to local processing facilities. This step is essential to preserve their quality and prevent any deterioration.
To understand how açaí is then processed into a purée, check out our article on the industrial processing of açaí.
Nossa's On-Site Support
Strict traceability and oversight in the field
Our Brazilian CSR team is on the ground throughout the harvest. It oversees processes, monitors practices, and provides day-to-day support to the cooperatives.
We also work with the cooperatives with the support of Nilma, our agroforestry technician. She trains and advises the açaí harvesters to optimize harvesting and logistics.
A Concrete Commitment to People
We visit the families of harvesters and identify their needs for protective equipment.
To date, we have distributed more than 100 protective kits for harvesting to the cooperatives we work with. These kits include gloves, boots, work clothes, and more.
We also organize awareness-raising workshops on best agricultural practices, safety, collective income management, and compliance with specifications.
A zero-tolerance policy
Our commitment is clear: in the event of non-compliance with our requirements (child labor, employment of undocumented workers, failure to comply with specifications or certification standards), Nossa! will immediately terminate its partnership with the cooperative in question.
This vigilance ensures not only high-quality acai, but also a fair and ethical social impact.
Key Takeaways on the Açaí Harvest in the Amazon
When you choose Nossa!, you’re choosing acai that’s healthy, delicious, sustainable, ethically sourced, and 100% traceable.
Behind every acai bowl lies a living ecosystem, a preserved forest, and communities we support.
When is the açaí harvested?
The açaí harvest takes place mainly during the dry season in the Amazon, between August and December. This is when the berries reach maturity.
How can you tell if an acai berry is ripe?
Acai berries are harvested only when they turn dark purple, almost black. This color indicates that they are ripe and ready to eat.
Why is the açaí harvested by hand?
Harvesting is done entirely by hand because the palm trees are tall and located in areas that are difficult to access. This also helps preserve the trees and ensures that only ripe berries are picked.
Why does acai need to be processed quickly?
The acai is a very delicate fruit that oxidizes quickly after harvest. It must be processed within 24 hours to preserve its nutritional value and flavor.
