Açai is a tropical palm that is naturally abundant in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. Acai palms will not tolerate frost or near-freezing temperatures. The Açai palm prefers warm temperatures between 60F to 95F with humidity and filtered sunlight. The acai has adapted to live in periodically waterlogged and flooded soils by developing special root structures called pneumatophores. The plant will take full sun as it matures, it also likes high humidity. Good air circulation and frequent watering and fertilizing will promote healthy growth and abundant fruiting. With proper care, açai palms can be grown indoors or in a temperature controlled greenhouse. At three years of age, acai palms can begin to flower. It produces both female and male flowers which are quite small and are brown to purple in color. The acai palm is a fast grower and can have multiple trunks: the average mature wild tree has 4-8 well-developed trunks from a single seed and root system; however, a single seed can grow a plant providing up to 25 trunks growing individually. In the wild, each trunk produces and average of 50 pounds of acai berries per year!
Acai produces an edible fruit which grows in bunches. The fruit is round, 1-2 cm in diameter, with a single large seed inside surrounded by stringy fibrous sheaths and a thin oily coating. It begins as a green color and ripens to a dark purple. Each acai palm trunk usually produces from four to eight bunches of fruit per year. The fruit of the acai is famous for its anti-oxidant qualities and other health benefits said toinclude weight loss, increased energy, and lower cholesterol! The dark purple acai juice is extracted from the fruit. The seeds are also soaked in water and then squeezed and strained to produce a thick purple liquid that is sometimes eaten with sugar and tapioca flour, and is also used to produce ice cream, liquor and sweets. Modern science has validated the remarkable health benefits of acai as a rich source of anthocyanins and other phenolics and phyto-nutrients. Acai berries are amongst the most nutritious foods of the Amazon, rich in B vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Açai contains an amazingly high concentration level of Antioxidants which contribute to combat premature aging. Studies show that Açai provides significantly more antioxidants than such well-respected foods as blueberries and even red wine. The antioxidant concentration in the açai fruit is five times higher than that of Gingko Biloba, the popular "brain boosting" herbal supplement that is renowned for its antioxidant properties.
The acai palm is also the world's main source for premium quality "heart-of-palm" shoots.
Açai Berries picked fresh from your own Açai tree have the maximum potency, with nutrition and health benefits several times greater than the over-processed & diluted products shipped from thousands of miles away.
Açai can be grown indoors or in greenhouses in California. Açai trees bear fruit in as little as 3 years from seed. Freezing temperatures will kill the acai palm. However, the acai palm tolerates a constantly cool or mild climate with little temperature difference between day & night, and Summer & Winter. You will likely need a greenhouse that can maintain good air circulation and a minimum temperature of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The internet has many sites that show you how to build a greenhouse next to your home. There is also a lot of information available as well on how to heat your greenhouse naturally using solar power. Your acai tree will only need the greenhouse protection for those seasons when the air temperature is too low for Açai. Fertilize your Açai Tree as needed and water the root ball thoroughly whenever it has dried out. A good rule of thumb is not to water until the surface of the soil feels dry and warm to the touch. Even though Açai Trees grow in the flood plains of the Amazon, they prefer not to be too wet for too long.
The demand for açai plants is very high, and we have already sold-out for this season!
We also have zahidi date palm offshoots available.
Our fresh picked medjool date program has been a huge success!
At certain times of year, we can ship orders for organically grown freshly picked medjool dates, as well as other date varieties and also organically grown mesquite seed pods. We also occasionally have a variety of other rare and exotic fruits that were grown organically and allowed to fully ripen on the tree.
Our fresh medjool dates are available in September-October each year.