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Opic in action sambazon
Sambazon, Inc. is a privately held American company based in San Clemente, California that makes açaí-based food and beverages. All Sambazon products are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free and fair trade.
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Sambazon pure amazon power
History
Sambazon was founded in 2000 by Ryan Black, Edmund Nichols and Jeremy Black, following a trip to Brazil where they experienced their first açaí bowls. Credited for introducing açaí to the U.S., Sambazon began by selling frozen açaí pulp to juice bars in Southern California, and now has distribution networks across the U.S., Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Canada. In 2005, Sambazon built its own açaí manufacturing plant in Brazil establishing an organic, vertically integrated supply chain for the berries.
As the largest producer of organic açaí with yearly sales estimated at US$25 million in 2008, Sambazon is credited with being the first company to establish USDA Organic Certification for açaí, and also achieved Fair Trade certification for its supply chain. As of October 2013, Sambazon was the fifth largest premium juice brand in the U.S.
Sustainability
Sambazon operates as a triple bottom line business (whereby success is measured economically, socially and environmentally), and has worked closely with local and international NGOs, including The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Peabiru Institute, Amapa and Para State Federal Universities and more, to preserve the Amazon Rainforest, ensure that açaí berries are sustainably harvested, and that farmers are paid fair wages. Sambazon also founded the Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP) “to promote lasting sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon, while improving the conditions of indigenous people through creative marketing of the açaí fruit,” and works to encourage environmental stewardship, stimulate bio-diverse agro-forestry systems, and provide alternatives to logging, cattle, soy, and monoculture plantations through the project. Sambazon’s sustainable practices support 10,000 family farmers and 2 million acres of Amazon Rainforest in the region, while aiming to improve the lives of local residents through projects like constructing new schools and community centers, and working with a local women’s cooperative generate profits from creating jewelry out of açaí seeds.
Awards
Sambazon is the recipient of several awards, including SELF 2013 Healthy Food Awards; Women’s Health 125 Best Packaged Food Awards 2012; BevNET Best of 2012 Award: Best Smoothie; InterBev: Best Organic Beverage Award 2012; SHAPE Snack Awards 2011; and the Secretary of State’s 2006 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) – Small-Medium Business Category.