Açaí from Codajás: Authentic Flavor of Amazonas wins Geographical Indication seal

recognition

Called “black gold” by residents of the region, açaí from Codajás generated more than R$31 million in recent years

Codajás (AM) — Açaí de Codajás received the registration of the 122nd Geographical Indication from the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), on Tuesday (26). Now, there are 113 GIs registered in Brazil, 15 in the Amazon and seven in Amazonas. In practice, the seal achieved after four years of work in partnership with Sebrae Amazonas and other organizations, is an official recognition of Indication of Origin granted to the product that has unique characteristics from the region of origin.

According to the documentation presented to INPI, the municipality of Codajás, located in the interior of Amazonas, has vegetation and climate favorable to the production of açaí, being on the list of the largest national producers of the fruit. This generates employment and income for the city, which until 1938 consisted of an indigenous village with the same name.

Called “black gold” by residents of the region, Codajás was the largest producer of açaí in the state of Amazonas in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, generating more than R$31 million in the economy. In the municipality alone, 70% of the population works in indirect activities related to the production and disposal of açaí and around 600 producers work directly, including collectors, scouts and middlemen on vessels, dockworkers, among other actors in the production and sale of the product.

Known for its quality and distinct flavor, the region’s fruit gained greater fame in 1988, with the start of the Açaí Festival, which currently brings together around 50 thousand people including local, national and international participants. That was when other municipalities began to indicate the origin of the input in sales. Since then, in 2019, producers from Codaja in partnership with Sebrae Amazonas, public authorities and entities began to work in the search to officially achieve the notoriety of local açaí.

The Head of the Sebrae-AM office in Coari, Alzinete Sobrinho, highlights that the seal, in addition to adding value to the market, protects and guarantees the origin of the brand, as is already the case with Uarini flour and Maués guaraná.

“This seal is the result of a joint effort by producers, Sebrae and other partners, in addition to parliamentary amendments and a lot of coordination. We believe that this achievement will mainly protect those workers who correctly produce and sell the fruit in the region, which was previously falsely passed on to the consumer. Bringing this recognition is confirming the quality and uniqueness of the product”,

said Alzinete.

Geographical indication

In Brazil, the Geographical Indication seal is awarded by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), of the Federal Government. Recognition is granted to a region that has become known or presented links relating to the quality and characteristics of a product or service, as established by Ordinance INPI/PR No. 4, of January 12, 2022.

Currently, Amazonas has seven GIs: flour from Uarini, ornamental fish from Rio Negro, pineapple from Novo Remanso, pirarucu from Mamirauá, guaraná from Maués and Andirá-Marau (guaraná from the indigenous people), whose area includes part of municipalities in the east of Amazonas and from Pará, and now Açaí from Codajás.

Characteristics of açaí

Açaí is a fruit originating from the Amazon region, widely used in food and beverages, being obtained through extractive activities and planting, a historically recent process. Even though the fruit is obtained in different ways, the processing process is the same, guaranteeing the uniformity of the product.

Most of the açaí production in Codajás is on the banks of the Miuá, Badajós, Salsa, Jamacana, Piorini lakes, in addition to the road and banks of the Solimões river. The fruit has a purple to reddish color, sweet flavor, high profitability, high nutritional power and viscosity. The high fat content and anthocyanin present in açaí help fight free radicals.

*With information from consultancy

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