SunOpta Increases It's North American Acai Sales

SunOpta Inc., founded in 1973 under the name "Stake Technology", expects to increase its acai sales to $4 million over the next y ear.

SunOpta sells frozen pulp to food manufacturers throughout North America, including the United States. The food manufacturers use the acai frozen pulp to make sorbets, smoothies, and juices.

Acai has become a very much in demand product in the U.S. following its exposure on Oprah.

According to SunOpta, "Acai is harvested by hand and processed within 24 hours from the Amazon in Brazil and has the highest antioxidants of any fruit in the world and is an almost perfect blend of essential amino acids along with a high level of omega fatty acids and vitamins. Antioxidants are compounds that may help inhibit premature aging, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease by neutralizing free radicals. The Acai berries are harvested in a sustainable manner creating jobs in the Amazon and preserving the Rain Forest. A portion of the fruit price goes back to the indigenous peoples in the Amazon to help support schools and provide books and other educational tools to children."

SunOpta has also signed an exclusive agreement to market the Belizza's  line of acai based antioxidant-rich products that can be blended into smoothies or eaten by themselves.

Read more about Belizza at their website.