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Native Forest® Hearts of Palm are truly international delicacies. Consistently tender and delicious, they have become favorites of chefs the world over, complementing a wide range of recipes. They make a delightful appetizer, or side dish when sautéed with butter and topped with grated Parmesan. They may also be enjoyed straight from the can as a low-calorie snack, or sliced and served as a wonderful addition to any salad.
Tasty and versatile, hearts of palm are certain to continue growing in popularity, and worldwide demand for them has already spawned numerous agricultural and processing facilities throughout Central and South America. But many stories are told of the damaging impact that certain agricultural projects may have on the South American rainforests. Slash and burn techniques routinely destroy millions of acres of rainforest in shortsighted attempts to build an agricultural or manufacturing base for the region.
Perhaps more than any time in recorded history, mankind has come to recognize the importance of protecting the biological systems naturally present on our planet. In response to the alarming depletion of the earth’s rainforests, conscientious entrepreneurs work hand-in-hand with ecologists to create viable businesses that protect and enhance the rainforest ecology. One such project can be found in Guyana, South America, but only if one travels down the Barima River about 200 kilometers from Georgetown, deep into the bush. It is here that a group of French entrepreneurs have established a system for harvesting and processing the Euterpe Oleracea, or manicole palm tree, that grows profusely, like a weed, along the reef system that permeates the vast South American rainforest.
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| Over 117,000 acres of pristine native forest have so far been set aside from all development specifically to foster this hearts of palm project. Local and indigenous people become independent operators, who paddle and trek into this wilderness, seeking to harvest the stems of the manicole palm. One reef system may contain millions of manicole of various sizes and maturity. |
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The manicole is a cestipose, which means it is a multi-stemmed plant, boasting 10 to 20 stems per root. Harvesters will identify the ideal stems on the plant, based upon size and maturity. Following ancestral guidelines, they will cut only the 3 to 5 stems of ideal maturity (not too young, not too old), leaving the overall plant unharmed. The cutting is done manually, avoiding machinery and vehicles, which could otherwise damage this unique environment. Furthermore, harvesters routinely trim the rainforest canopy as they work, allowing more nourishing sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. This, in turn, promotes growth of a multitude of botanical plants, and other indigenous flora, contributing to a healthful balance of biodiversity in the forest. This method assures that the manicole palm, and the rainforest itself, will remain a fully renewable resource for generations to come.
Workers bring their palm harvest to the Barima River processing facility. There, the palm stalks are debarked, revealing a tender white center that is actually the undeveloped leaves of the palm that have yet to differentiate and emerge from their casing within the stalk. This is the "heart of palm." At the processing facility the hearts of palm are blanched, flash pasteurized, and packed in first quality enamel-lined cans or glass jars. The facility is organized to exceed organic standards of IFOAM and carries organic certifications from ECOCERT and QAI.
It is noteworthy that the Native Forest® palm heart project supports more than the health of the consumer and the health of the rainforest. It also supports the economic and social health of the Barima River region. As one might imagine, employment opportunities in the bush are scarce. Before this project was installed, adult villagers would have to travel by boat 200 kilometers upriver to Georgetown to find employment, usually as domestic workers in homes of the urban wealthy. The organic hearts of palm project brings social and economic vibrancy back to the Barima River villages. Independent operators and employees can work close to their families and their ancestral homes. Employees may choose to be paid either in local currency or in a special barter currency, which is extremely popular. The company runs a weekly supply boat from Georgetown laden with all sorts of staples and consumer goods that may only be enjoyed by participants of the barter program. The Native Forest® Organic Hearts of Palm project has truly brought a higher standard of living to the region, while maintaining respect for its culture and its vast natural resources. |
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