SAN DIEGO (August 5, 2008) – Açai Roots™, a leading supplier of 100% natural açaí (ah-SIGH-ee) pulp products, achieved 595% growth for 2006-2007. Based on 2008 Q1 and Q2 revenues, this “Not just a berry, a lifestyle” company is on a fast track to post a three year 2677% increase. After moving to San Diego, three Brazilian friends missed the authentic taste, texture and style of their Rio-style açaí, as well as the camaraderie of Brazilian healthy living. In 2005 they teamed up their “roots” to bring ready-to-eat authentic açaí sorbet to the United States. Açai Roots’ founders, Igor Pereira, Marco Rega and Rafael Magalhaes, were born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. They are on track to continue their business’ exponential growth trend based on their native agricultural knowledge and local Amazon connections.

There is a lot of buzz about açaí in the health food marketplace. On Oprah’s web site, author, Dr. Nicholas Perricone describes açaí, as the Superfood No. 1, calling it nature’s energy fruit. In the Amazon they call it “Viagra de Amazonia” due to the concentration of antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein ascribed to it. Harvested from the Amazon jungle’s açaí palm, this power berry is about 97-98% seed and only 2-3% pulp extracted from the skin. Açaí pulp has been enjoyed for decades by the people of Brazil—eaten in bowls, drank in smoothies, found on every street corner. It’s just been within the last 7 years that açaí has been introduced in the United States.

“We’re not only getting our authentic Rio-style açaí products into the marketplace, but we are also helping to protect the Amazon rainforest. The demand for açaí berries has created a sustainable agricultural industry and provides fair trade income to local workers,” said Açai Roots’ CEO, Igor Pereira. “The açaí palm trees used to be cut down for the heart of palm, and now they have a new life and purpose. Our families live and work in Brazil, and through Açai Roots, we too can give back to our native country. What started as a way the three of us could bring a taste of our energetic, healthy lifestyle to the US has turned into a business that is changing lives.”