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PORTFOLIO BY SECTOR
Sambazon do Brasil wild harvests açaí, an all-natural, energy-boosting fruit from Amazon palmberries, and combines it with guaraná, an Amazon seed containing natural stimulants, to produce Sambazon Açaí. Sambazon do Brasil is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samba, Inc. and was incorporated in 2001 to export Brazilian açaí to the U.S. market. Its frozen smoothie mixes and other products are available in over 700 locations in 22 states in the U.S., including retail chains such as Whole Foods. Sambazon purchases its açaí from 1,500 local families in the Varzea Flooded Forest ecoregion, which covers approximately 10 percent of the Amazon. The entire Amazon basin houses over 3,000 freshwater animal and fish species. This region, however, is threatened by activities such as selective logging, cattle ranching, over-fishing, pollution, and the construction of dams and roads. The company, which harvests its fruits organically, is committed to preserving this ecoregion by providing a sustainable, income generating activity for the local growers. Sambazon will collaborate with FASE, a respected, local NGO that works towards the sustainable extraction of forest products in the Amazon state of Pará. FASE will coordinate the relationship between the grower associations and Sambazon by negotiating pre-harvest açaí prices. In addition, FASE and Sambazon will provide technical assistance to the growers. Since being introduced to the Brazilian market ten years ago, açaí has become a dietary staple in the north and southeast of the country due to its high content of antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, essential fatty acids, fiber, and vitamin E. EcoEnterprises Fund co-financed this investment with EcoLogic Enterprise Ventures, Union Bank of California, and the project principals. Investing in companies. Investing in communities. Investing in conservation.
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