**3. Açaí: from local consumption to global production**

The Amazon region, or Legal Amazon, has always played an important role in the extraction economy. The region went through several economic cycles, including rubber, fruits and plants from the inland, and nowadays the *black gold* referring to açaí. This new economic moment has also resulted in new land and social conflicts, inserting the Amazon in the global agenda. In Brazil, the State of Pará is the largest producer of açaí [14].

and this growth meant a significant increase of its urban area. The municipality's predominant economic activity is the açaí production and fishing. Poor sanitation and health services are widespread. The urban area of Ponta de Pedras, despite presenting economic growth, does not provide proper services and basic infrastructure to its residents [13]. On the other hand, 99% of urban households have electricity, and in the rural area, it is 90%. The population reported that the Federal Government's "Electricity for All" program, starting in 2009, improved their living conditions and provided access to energy-dependent goods and benefits. Electricity in

More than half of the urban population (61%) has a family average income of 1–3 minimum wages (US\$ 250), and among the rural population, 25% receive up to one minimum wage. Minimum wage is paid as salary or retirement to Brazilian population, and it is established annually by a federal decree. At the time of the fieldwork, it was around 250 US American

Higher income in the urban area is due to the possibility of developing autonomous activities and small services, such as the sale of açaí at home. Regarding their income, the interviewees reported that the benefits received from the government (such as family minimum allowance, unemployment insurance to fishermen and retirement) are important in the domestic budget to cover family expenses, and contribute to the local economy and access to consumer goods, such as mobile phones and household appliances, internet services, etc. In Ponta de Pedras, 55% of the inhabitants in the urban area and 51% in the rural area receive the family minimum allowance. In the rural area, the unemployment insurance to fishermen is the most important benefit, received by 76% of the interviewees. In addition, the high number of workers in açaí extraction activity in rural areas indicates it is the main source of local income. Of the total number of interviewees from the rural area, 8% have the family allowance as their sole source of income as they do not have any formal employment or other income. In the urban area, 18% of the interviewed families do not have any income, and in the rural area, 6% of inter-

Lack of sufficient income has a direct impact on family health determinants, including food availability. On the other hand, this reality has a smaller impact on rural population, as interviewees reported they can plant and have fruits from the forest such as açaí, besides fishing,

Regarding the educational level of the interviewed population, 14% are illiterate in the urban area, and 13% in the rural area. Only 22% of the urban interviewees concluded high school, and in rural communities, only 4% have this degree. Low educational levels have a negative impact on finding a good job, according to the interviewees, especially for young people.

The Amazon region, or Legal Amazon, has always played an important role in the extraction economy. The region went through several economic cycles, including rubber, fruits and plants from the inland, and nowadays the *black gold* referring to açaí. This new economic

households already had increased from 32.19% in 1991 to 74.84% in 2010.

viewees reported no benefit and no source of income.

**3. Açaí: from local consumption to global production**

which guarantees healthier sources of calories.

dollars.

14 Current Issues in Global Health

Açaí has become a key cultural symbol of the region, valued for the quality of its fresh juice, heart of palm, its multiple uses, and unique esthetic beauty of the plant that is sold for gardens of all social classes [9]. Besides manioc, açaí is a staple food and a vital source of calories for the local population. The market of açaí export to the United States, Japan, and other countries1 , in 2012, amounted to more than US\$ 17 million. The trend is to increased exports due to an investment in açaí handling and production, processing of the fruit, and expansion of exports to other countries [8, 15].

As açaí won the preference of consumers abroad, it also became a global market product, which inserted Ponta de Pedras, a small municipality in the Amazon with excessive production, in the global market. However, the exported amount is still below its full potential. Globalization has reduced the distance between markets [16].

With the internationalization of açaí fruit, its production and distribution network, particularly of the State of Pará, invested in marketing, targeting the external market. With the advent of technologies and social media, the product has received even more attention, leading to new consumers out of Pará, leveraging this global consumer market.

When a product is inserted in the global market, its condition, entity, or local identity is extended beyond national boundaries and becomes global [17]. The local production of açaí, when winning the international market, is submitted to this process beyond borders. However, the commercial transaction of this extractive product has generated economic and ecological benefits to the local population, contributing to the economic sustainability of many riverside families. In addition, the workers of the açaí production chain, and other extractive products, adopted sustainable practices for the extraction and conservation of açaí palm trees [9]. In this new economic cycle of the fruit, large commercial cities, and small towns in Amazon, like Ponta de Pedras, were benefitted.

The globalization process allows insertions from local to global level; however, it requires dynamism that, often, does not correspond to the local reality. It is related to environmental, sociocultural and sometimes economic deteriorations that directly or indirectly impact the population, especially on the riverside [8]. On the other hand, this space transformation in the Amazon contributes to the strengthening of urban networks [18].

Açaí started to be sold in the state of Pará, at supermarkets, gyms, and fast food chain stores, in order to fulfill new market niches and cover consumers with higher purchasing power [19]. The fruit exploitation is conducted in native açaí plantations, which present low productivity, especially between harvests [20]. Because of this problem, many families adopt deforestation practices to produce subsistence crops, turning the environmental problems in the region worse. Social and economic connections involved in the açaí trading have changed the fruit

<sup>1</sup> Abu Dhabi, Germany, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, South Korea, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Estonia, France, Holland, England, Israel, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Uruguay [8].

production practices and land use, and intensified the relations between rural and urban families and communities living in açaí production municipalities like Ponta de Pedras.

The production of açaí is considered an extractive activity, with exemption from federal [14] and Pará state taxes.
