Sambazon is a dream come true...

"I am a professional big wave surfer from Brasil and I spend my time between Bahia in the northeast of Brasil and Hawaii. When the waves are small, I farm cacao beans, cattle, milk and I am just starting to plant some açaí.

When I first moved to Hawaii from Brasil 15 years ago, I always dreamed of having açaí there. Hawaii has a healthy sports vibe and without açaí being a part of daily nutrition here, that vibe was incomplete.

Finally, Sambazon showed up and brought açaí to the Hawaiian paradise. As a Sambazon sponsored athlete, I am blessed to be part of this team. When I was a boy in Brasil I had açaí everyday, now being able to have pounds of açaí in my fridge is the best thing in the world. My 5 year old daughter just loves it and I am thrilled to be able to share it with her. I am also very proud to represent such a special company who brings this organic amazing fruit from my home country and the positive, healthy, green and Brasilian vibe that Sambazon is all about."

-written by Danilo Couto

Have Questions About Sambazon? Jenn’s Got Answers.

“Hi, Good Morning, Sambazon….” That’s me you hear on the line when you call Sambazon.

While I have only been working for Sambazon a little over 6 months, I have been providing customer service, either on a sales floor or on the phone, for over 17 years. Something I have discovered over the years is the best “on the job training” is to listen and learn from customers’ questions. Sambazon is no different. I came into this position a relative açaí “newbie” so I have had to learn a lot about Sambazon and açaí. Finding answers to customers’ questions has been a big part of this experience. Here are few of the most popular questions and answers…..

Where can I find your product in my area?
Visit our website (www.sambazon.com) and click the Retailer tab. Customers can enter their zip code as well as the product they are looking for and find a retailer close to them.


I love your product! How much should I eat on a daily basis? Can one ever consume too much açaí?
Açaí is a very nutritious, potent fruit and we encourage our consumers to eat as much acai as their body craves. While there is no USDA guideline on how much acai one should consume in a day, at the office we love how we feel when we eat at least
one serving (sometimes two!) of açaí each day. All Sambazon products, with the exception of our energy drinks, provide 1 to 2 servings of fruit.


Can Açaí help me lose weight?
While the perception that acai promotes weight loss has been created by internet scams touting free trials of açaí supplements, that is not what açaí is all about. Açaí is an incredibly healthy fruit that delivers powerful antioxidants and healthy omegas. And, as part of a healthy active lifestyle, acai can support positive health results.


Where is the expiration date located on your bottled juices?
Locate the Nutrition facts panel on the bottle. The expiration, or “Best By” date, is stamped in black along the seam. We are aware it can be hard to read and have recently started using a much easier to read stamp which you should see on our bottles in the near future.

I enjoy hearing from our customers. So, keep the feedback and questions coming!

Jenn Bonura – Customer Service

Sambazon Launches New Product at Greenfest!

"Last weekend, we set up shop at San Francisco’s annual Green Festival of all things eco/organic/fairtrade and oh so good... For you and the environment, I mean. Sambazon is a veteran at the Green Festivals, we’ve been going for quite a few years now, but it always makes things more fun when you have something new to show people. This weekend we showcased for the first time Sambazon’s Antioxidant Elixir, all three flavors in their sleek and inviting recyclable bottles. This new product – light on the tongue, refreshing for the soul, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C (just in time for flu season!), made with Amazon superfruits açaí and acerola, and also coincidentally kind on the calories too... well, let’s just say it went over well!

Our team of three met thousands of people in fact, some old timers and brand loyalists, some new to the brand with curious questions – and we did our best to make sure everyone walked away from our booth with big purple smiles. From Whitney Houston’s BodyGuard soundtrack (I always make sure that the preshow setup involves an epic dance party) and the Brazilian beats we had going throughout the show, to the enourmous amounts of açaí, kombucha and amazing grass drinks we lived on throughout the weekend, and all of the world’s best açaí we were giving away... I think people caught on to the good vibes of enjoying every minute of life and treating yourself right by only putting the best stuff into your body. You can’t walk into a green festival and consume something or even touch something unhealthy – and it’s become clear to me that that is the type of world Sambazon wants to help create, the type of a world I’m so proud to be part of.

If you didn’t make it to this Greenfest, make sure to stop by our booth and say hi next year!"

-Written by Kaia Lai (West Coast Events Manager)

Sambazon Advocate & Vail Firefighter Ryan Sutter: Code 3 For A Cure Visits Vail

Code 3 for a cure is a nonprofit organization that aims to spread the understanding of firefighters’ heightened risk of cancer that naturally comes with the job and the need for early cancer screenings and appropriate medical attention. Last week, Code 3 and Lorenzo Abundiz, a cancer fighting 27-year veteran of the fire service, visited the Vail Firehouse on his national tour to spread these important messages. Sambazon friend and ambassador Ryan Sutter attended the event bringing cases of Sambazon açaí for the firefighters in attendance. This is his account of the event:

“Last week Lorenzo Abundiz walked into the Vail Fire House a day earlier than he was scheduled to arrive. He had driven his donated Type One fire engine from St. Louis to Vail as a part of a mission that would eventually take him over 16,000 miles across The United States and Canada. Afraid of encountering bad weather, Lorenzo had left early to ensure he would have the opportunity to spread his message of honor and hope. He arrived to little fan fair. Greeted only by the open arms of the Vail Fire Department, a cup of coffee from Westside Café and a generously donated room at the Vail Plaza Lodge, Lorenzo could not have been happier. He was alive.”

Read the full blog post at RyanSutter.com

Sambazon Participates at Walk for Hope!

"One of the most moving events I’ve been to: The City of Hope hospital’s annual Walk for Hope in Duarte took place yesterday and gathered 10,000 people together in solidarity pledging to cure breast cancer. The four lane street was filled with participants dressed in white and pink with pink ribbons buttoned to their shirts, hats, bags. Through the morning, it because clear that each participant either was walking for someone who has breast cancer, someone who died of the disease or was suffering themselves. From the tshirts that said, in memory of my wife, my mother, my sister... to “save the ta-tas”, the day was filled with a somewhat sad yet joyful and hopeful air. Even the CEO of the hospital came out to announce the hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations that they received this year toward the valiant effort they have put forth to cure Breast Cancer at their hospital. It was quite amazing to be able to hand out healthy, sustaining Sambazon juices to a crowd of such courageous and proud women and be able to support their movement."

- Written by Kaia Lai (West Coast Events Manager)

October is Fair Trade Month!

Did you know that along with being synonymous for breast cancer awareness month, October is Fair Trade month?

To celebrate we asked one of our founders, Travis Baumgardner, to write a quick summary of how Sambazon became Fair Trade certified!

“Fair Trade certification has been part of our company’s triple bottom line mission and overall values from the beginning. Our goal is to add value through our work to benefit the entire supply chain of Açai fruits, which not only includes environmental support, but also social and economic support to the families that own and manage the agro-forestry areas in the Amazon Rainforest where the fruit is harvested. Fair Trade certification identifies opportunities and measures progress socially and economically.

We remain the first and only source of Açaí to be certified Ecocert Fair Trade, providing sustainable employment for over 3,000 people and fostering environmental stewardship on over 1.7 million acres of biodiverse agro-forestry farms in Amapá and Pará States.

Fair Trade Certification supports all 3 pillars of Sambazon’s triple bottom line (economic-environmental-social) success. It guarantees that the agro-forestry farms and their families who supply Sambazon with Açai fruit are receiving a fair market price along with Sambazon funded technical support which will increase their family income and add value to their lives. By promoting triple bottom line success, the families and their work to promote bio diverse lands are proving the case for sustainable development in the Amazon Rainforest. Through Sambazon Açai, this is bringing long term development and improved living and financial freedoms to an impoverished region where clear cutting for lumber, soy and cattle are predominant.”

Thanks Travis! And Happy Fair Trade Month Everyone!

The Drifter is coming to a town near you!

Surf icon and Sambazon Ambassador Rob Machado is the central focus of acclaimed surf filmmaker Taylor Steele’s latest movie – Drifter. Steele captures Machado’s soulsearching journeys through the Indonesian islands. At the world premiere of the movie in Bali, Indonesia, at the Ombak International Surf Film Festival earlier this fall, it was chosen Best Film. And the Jakarta Post enlighted us further: "Capturing the journey of the surfer through a different land, culture and waves, The Drifter is a visual metaphor for a free spirit's conscious abandonment of the worldly traps of modern life as he searches for the inner freedom and spiritual joy offered by a life of renunciation."

Watch the trailer below, and check out Drifter in a town near you:
11/3/09 PORTLAND / Nike HQ
11/4/09 SAN DIEGO / La Paloma
11/5/09 LOS ANGELES / Montalban Theater
11/7/09 FLORIDA
11/9/09 NORTH CAROLINA / venue tba
11/11/09 VIRGINIA BEACH / venue tba
11/13/09 NEW YORK
11/15/09 SANTA BARBARA / Victoria Hall Theater
11/16/09 SAN FRANCISCO / Victoria Theater
11/17/09 SANTA CRUZ / Nickelodeon
11/18/09 SAN LUIS OBISPO
11/19/09 LAGUNA BEACH / South Coast Theater

Sambazon Marathon Sampling in the Windy City!

"I flew to Chicago with high expectations for the city and the marathon it was about to host. When I arrived I realized that the Chicago Marathon is one of the largest and most well known races in world. Over 10,000 athletes were confirmed and all were in attendance for the Health and Fitness Expo the two days prior, where they were able to sample some of our delicious Sambazon açaí. The Expo was filled with an air of excitement and anticipation for the day of the big race but amidst all the controlled excitement, Sambazon had a great presence and was a huge hit! Runners along with their family and friends were thrilled to have a refreshing healthy beverage among all the protein bars and snacks.

The opening day we shared a booth with the ever gracious team at Runners' World Magazine. Cory, Sambazon’s Chicago Sales Rep, held the fort down as he was continuously swamped with Sambazon fans scooping up samples and coupons from the booth. The second day of the show was even more jam packed with a steady flow of runners, many of whom had flown in from all over the country and the world. Throughout the two days we introduced açaí to thousands of people from so many different places and I came to realize that these events truly foster an incredibly collaborative and positive endurance community with a worldly passion for their sport.

We were happy to share our passion for Sambazon açaí and spread the great nutritional vibes before their long 26.2 mile victory!"

-Written by Pamela Kotsaftis (Northeast Market Manager)

8th Annual Tim Brown Invitational Golf Tournament

Today marked the 8th annual Dr. Tim Brown Invitational Golf Tournament - the day when everyone from eco celebrities and pro golfers to surfers and industry leaders get together for a day of playfully competitive golf for a good cause, and we too were stoked to be involved. In the past, the event has raised thousands of dollars for Surfing America and likeminded organizations that Dr. Brown personally chooses. This year, however, Dr. Brown picked TACA – Talk About Curing Autism. He stood up in front of everyone today and told us why curing autism is such an important subject, how over one in 125 children born will be autistic, and how this statistic is continuously becoming more severe. This is why the resources and support that TACA provides for families dealing with an autism diagnosis is so important.



The event garnered some great support for the cause, with faces like Pro Surfer and Sambazon Ambassador Rob Machado and 11 time PGA Tour Champion John Cook along with over 100 supporters and golf aficionados.



Dr. Tim Brown, wife Hillary and John Cook grab some breakfast açaí bowls from the Sambazon Tent.

All in all, the Sambazon crew was honored to be a part of the TBIGT, such a fun and beneficial tradition. We’ll be looking forward to it again next year!

Super Acai Benefits by The Medicine Hunter

As featured on Fox News Health Blog:

The first time I ever tried acai (pron: ah-sah-yee) in 1997, the fruit was served to me as a thick drink by an Ipixunaindian woman, when I was living on the Amazon river for a month. Acai, Euterpeoleracea, was as deep purple as any food I had ever seen. In fact, a spill stained a favorite t-shirt of mine forever. I loved the rich flavor of acai, and the energy it imparted, and consumed as much as I could during the course of my time on the river. When I left Brazil that time, I lamented that I’d probably never be able to obtain acai back home. Times have changed, and this delicious fruit is now widely available, from Whole Foods to up-market grocery stores.

A so-called “super-berry” that grows on palms trees in the Amazon, acai is a staple food throughout Amazonia, and that status owes directly to its marvelous flavor. Acai explodes with flavor, and gets better with every mouthful. Rich in the potent purple pigments called anthocyanins, acai has a higher antioxidant activity rating than bilberries or blueberries, and is rich in beneficial dietary fibers. A glass of blended acai fruit, with just a slight touch of energizing guarana and certified organic sugar, imparts so much energy, you’ll want to dance and yodel while climbing a mountain at the same time. No wonder endurance cyclists and ball players have taken to this fruit. Surfers, skateboarders, X-gamers and outdoor enthusiasts speak of acai with reverence.

The berry craze is on full throttle now, and purveyors of each berry, from blueberries to blackberries, black currants and elderberries, have positioned their berry as the ultimate. All of these berries are rich in the purple antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins, and all impart both antioxidant protection to cells, and anti-inflammatory activity as well. As far as I am concerned, they are all extraordinary foods, and are valuable in any person’s diet. I just happen to favor acai most of all, because I love the flavor and the fact that the acai trade is helping to reduce deforestation in some parts of the Amazon.

Forest Preservation – Fast-forward years later, once more in the Brazilian rainforest, this time in the company of Ryan Black, founder of Sambazon Acai. We are watching several hard-working Brazilians climb tall acai palms rapidly, cut branches laden with ripe purple acai berries, and strip the berries into baskets, readying them for processing. “Our wildharvesting system was developed in conjunction with the Forest Sustainability Council,” Ryan explains. “We’ve taught people how to wildharvest acai, and protect the forest at the same time.” Through ecologically sound agro-forestry management practices, Sambazon has established a top-notch conservation program that protects the Amazon rainforest and minimizes habitat loss. On top of that, they’ve implemented a fair wage system that provides higher than average wages to over ten thousand families in Brazil’s Amapa state. Sambazon has won praise and support from World Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and Greenpeace. As far as Ryan is concerned, it’s all just a reasonable and fair way to operate a business. “Might as well do it right if you’re going to do it,” he comments.

Harvested from August through December in the hot, humid Amazon rainforest, acai is a high labor fruit. I watch the remarkable climbing skills of the harvesters, and realize with some sadness that I could never climb trees like that, let alone do it every day.

Traditional acai- We are invited into a large wooden house with open windows and about a dozen children crowding around us, to watch a woman prepare acai the traditional way. In this house, the preparation is all performed by hand. The woman hand grinds the berries through fiber mats, until the juice and fine pulp drip into a container underneath. After laboring on our behalf for more than half an hour, she serves us acai. Several of us spoon the rich berry preparation into our mouths, and laugh at our good fortune until tears form in our eyes. “Now this is how to eat acai,” Ryan declares. Truth is, unless you make a pilgrimage to the Brazilian Amazon, your best acai bet will be freezer packs or smoothies found in natural food stores.

Acai diets– Just a quick word about the acai diets that everybody has been spammed over. Useless. Acai is not a diet miracle. It is a wonderful, amazing-tasting, highly beneficial fruit that gives you energy and makes you feel good. But don’t be bilked by companies that want you to believe it’s the key to slimming. It isn’t.

There’s really no need to try to make something more than it is. In the case of acai, this is a superior, nutrient-rich fruit with tremendous antioxidant value. It offers great flavor, and makes you feel good. The harvesting of acai provides a living to a lot of people, and helps to preserve some of the Amazon rainforest. In my mind, that’s more than enough.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com

Sambazon Supports Surfers For Autism

On September 19th Surfers For Autism, a non-profit group designed to support the efforts of a collaboration of surfers, volunteers and sponsors dedicated to bringing the sport of surfing to families and children affected by autism set up an event at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, FL. Sambazon’s east coast road warrior Toby Taylor was there providing kids and adults with Sambazon açaí juices and smoothies. Here are his words that recap the feeling of this event...pretty powerful stuff:

When I got to the Beach early to set-up, the waves were perfect size for the kids. It was going to be a great day of Healing for all of us. Our Souls and hearts were touched. Something special was in the air, all the sponsors, instructors and volunteers were stoked and full of energy. Then the kids came, some were a bit anxious and didn’t know what to expect. But once they got in the water the healing stoke was everywhere, these kids started to smile, and they smiled the whole day, walking the beach and trying to communicate. Some would talk and others would just give you a big smile, we all connected that day on the beach. When you’re in the water all the problems of the day just seem to go away for awhile and you’re a kid again. When the kids were in the water you felt something special in the salt air. It was one of the greatest Surf sessions I’ve had in a long time.

-TT (South East Promotions Manager)


Click here to check out more photos of this event or click here to join Surfers For Autism’s facebook group.

Thanks to Surfers For Autism for inviting us to work with such an amazing group!

I ♥ Brasil! By David Zitko (Western Sales Manager)

Brasil, ok... now I understand… at least a little better.  I just got back from my first trip to Brasil (after working here at Sambazon for over 5 years) and I can’t find the words to describe the beauty and the feelings I have for that country, the culture, its people, the music. We spent some quality time in Rio and more quality time up in Macapa, home to our açaí factory in the State of Amapa.  Two very different places yet both still Brasil in all facets.  

Rio is such a great city!  I only got to see a little yet I was blown away by the people, the views and the fresh food… I was amazed by the food.  We ate delicious, healthy, tasty food every day and the flavors and quality of the meals were unbelievable.  Since it is South America, it was Winter in Brasil of course but we still enjoyed very warm days and even a little beach time in Ipanema.  Vendors sell everything from fresh coconuts and açaí to t-shirts and jewelry on the beach and the boardwalk.  The water temp was about the same as a Summer day in San Clemente, right around 70 degrees.   We also spent half a day visiting the Corcovado, which is the giant statue of Christ that overlooks Rio from one of its highest points.   It is one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever experienced.    

Up in the Amazon, we toured the factory and tasted fresh açaí that hadn’t been plucked off the tree for longer than a few hours.  The factory looked like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with everyone in clean white suits and masks.  Right next door there is a tile and brick factory which uses all of the processed seeds from the facility to fire their kilns.  Previously this brick maker had to burn hard woods but now the seeds and some wood chips produce the same energy to get the job done.  Everyone thought that was very cool and it really showed how even in remote places like the Brasilian Amazon you can find green practices taking over.  After we visited the brick factory we stopped by a local public school that our non profit endeavor, the SAP, supports.   The students were making jewelry out of the polished seeds and learning everything from business skills to local sustainability actions.  I purchased some nice pieces and toured the school after.  The people were so gracious and warm to us.  We also got to stop at the monument on the equator and take some pictures from the place where North meets South.

Brasilians are very well known for their fervent nationalism and energy when it comes to representing their country.   Before, I never gave it more thought than being typical pride.  Now I understand a little better why someone from Brasil can be so happy and proud of where they come from.  Now I understand a little better and can’t wait to go back. 

-Written by David Zitko (Western Sales Manager)

We’re consumers too…

You know, I was just thinking… Before Sambazon, what was it that drew me to a given brand and what is it that’s kept me loyal to certain brands all the years I’ve been grocery shopping.

A couple things come to mind when I think about brands I love like Traditional Medicinals herbal heath products and New Chapter supplements. Firstly, I learned about the brands through people whom I respect greatly. Secondly, like a good friend the brands are reliable - consistently potent and effective from the day I began buying them.

Now when I look at these beloved brands through the eyes of my experience with Sambazon, I have more respect for them than ever. I’ve come to learn first-hand how incredibly challenging it is to consistently produce products of the highest quality. It takes professionalism and a high degree of organization for sure but more impressively; it takes burning passion and a truly intense commitment to manifest a vision.

Whole Foods Market has a saying, ‘vote with your dollars’. I guess the saying is pretty much self-explanatory but it’s become particularly personal to me. Now when I shop, I use my intuition to try to sense what a given brand’s motivations are, what their guiding principles are, knowing that each of my purchases has a direct effect on shaping product trends.

It’s really cool to see how the natural foods movement has exploded as savvy shoppers increasingly choose products they feel are respecting the health of themselves and their families. I have to smile each time I walk into a conventional supermarket and am able to find Traditional Medicinals’ products - Pharmacopoeial potency herbs just an isle down from sprayable cheeses… are you kidding me?


Onward & Upward,

-skanda

Seattle shows it's true colors

On the road home from Bumbershoot I started thinking, it’s funny how things work out sometimes. Like rain and weather and waterproof jackets. Like Seattle’s biggest Music Festival Bumbershoot and the perfect three day storm. And seriously, it was perfectly unfortunate. Sunny and warm for setup day, pouring and cold for day 1,2 and 3, and clear for packout, sunny the next morning.

As you all know, açaí juices, smoothies, bowls are all cold refreshing nourishing goodness, but in the middle of a winter storm, that just happens to arrive in the middle of summer, sometimes, you tend to stay away from cold. But not for Seattleites. One thing I learned this weekend, is that throughout the rain, the cold, and the muddy grounds, Seattleites just push on like they don’t care, like the rain isn’t even there. Soaked to the bone they still seek out the healthy goodness that Sambazon has to offer and will jump at a frozen açaí bowl over hot steamy fried festival food any day.

So thank you Seattle for all your love, for buying us out of product in the middle of the cold, and for all the great music. We’ll be back next year, that’s for sure.

Power to the purple,
Kaia

Multeepurpose gives us a reason.

Multeepurpose is exactly that. It’s a concept store/internet café/printshop/tee shirt design warehouse/fashionista haven and eco-friendly Little Tokyo hang out founded by a company that’s dedicated to “changing the world one tee shirt at a time”. It draws a very eclectic crowd from professionals to artists and local LA dwellers... Who, it turns out, were all intrigued and pretty excited with açaí. The store front looks like a small internet café, but walk back through the hallway and you’ll find additional rooms dedicated to eco tee shirt manufacturing, a backend bar, and much much more. Turns out that their tee shirts are the softest I’ve ever felt (truly amazing) and have the coolest art with eco activist slogans like “don’t f- with mother nature,” plus 20% of each tee shirt is donated back to it’s respective non-profit. Can’t argue with that.

The Sambazon Crew and I stopped by for their official store opening on Saturday night and ran into long time friends Livity and Guayaki who also posted up on the sidewalk to support the store and represent sustainable business and the good life. After a night of serving up mini açaí bowls outside an pouring cocktails at the bar we discovered that Sambazon’s Jungle Love Amazon Energy is quite good with sake, who knew? It’s simple, just pour 2 parts Sake to 1 part Jungle Love Amazon Energy over ice, or shake and pour into a martini glass for a bit more class.

And next time you’re in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA, make sure you stop by Multeepurpose for any reason in the book if only to pick up an Amazon Energy to go!

Keep it purple,
Kaia

Written by Kaia Lai, West Event Manager

Sambazon's Bob Burnquist Represents at X Games 15

Sambazon teamrider and ambassador Bob Burnquist continued to push the limits of skateboarding last night at Summer X games with an almost perfect score of 94.00 - which tied the best run by gold medalist Jake Brown. Unfortunately, they didn't do a skate off between Bob and Jake, which we were all rooting for. But regardless, Bob walked away with a respectable silver medal after awing all his fans with the insane new stuff he was pulling on the mega ramp including a switch stance drop in.


Tonight Bob's competing in a new event called the Mega Rail Jam broadcast at 5pm PST- and on Saturday he'll be at the Vert Ramp broadcast at 6:30pm. So tune in and watch him skate on the world stage while fueling up on Sambazon Açaí!

Check out the photos and videos below for a recap of last night's Mega Ramp competition:

Pro Surfer Rochelle Ballard’s Surf into Yoga Class at the Nike 6.0 Notel Motel

Surf Into Yoga has been a really unique and exciting passion project. Working with a team, choreographing sequences, scripting, directing, producing, web lay outs, sales, and all kinds of other things that feel a bit foreign yet really interesting and exciting to learn and experience. It’s amazing when a project that is an idea becomes reality.

I’ve been going to classes since I was 19 and experiencing yoga in my life over the years of competing. It has always given me balance, great recovery, focus, and inspiration in my career and personal life. Now that I am not competing I have the privilege of creating, being inspired, inspiring, and sharing my experience of yoga and surfing with people in my community and wherever my slippers, surfboard, and yoga matt take me.

When I came to San Diego, California, Sambazon asked me if I would share some yoga with the crew at the Nike 6.0 Motel No Tell. As excited as I was, I was also a little nervous thinking about guiding a big group on my own through yoga. I’ve done it with friends and at my camps and resent workshops, but with my brother Hoku, and other yogi’s. I made it a point the few days leading into it, to lead yoga with my friends on the tour, like Sofia, Lyndsay, and Beck Woods. I was on the no partying, gotta be on it mode. Of course the night before I went to bed late and was so excited and nervous I could fall asleep for a while. Just like a contest, only way different.

I was up at light with a smile and a cup of Mate headed for the Motel. It was a great turn out, the sun was shining and the class was fun. I had Christa another yoga teacher that works for Sambazon helping to correct postures while I lead the group through restorative hip opening sequences from the DVD and a few core strengthening postures.
It was fun and felt good to share with the group.

I love inspiring people with surfing, yoga, wellness and a light approach to life. Making your body feel good, facing fears, overcoming obstacles, and finding the smile inside that feels good no matter what is going on around you.

The sun was cooking and everyone was happy with a yummy Açaí bowl after the workshop. Nike had the yoga blocks embroidered with Surf Into Yoga on them. What a cool trip! What an amazing thing for all of us to share, thanks to Sambazon and Nike for being so cool! Think I’m gonna like this…feels good to share with people and see a big peaceful smile on there face when they walk away.

Aloha,
Rochelle

Skanda’s Açaí EFA Smoothie

Fat…not only is it one of the major sources of deliciousness in food, it’s also the densest form of energy of all macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates). Understanding how they work in the human body empowers us to use them to our body’s advantage.

Over 60% of açaí’s total fatty acids come from the Omega 9 fatty acid, Oleic Acid. Oleic Acid is the predominant fatty acid in heart healthy Olive oil.

With this in mind, I thought I’d share one of my favorite acai smoothie recipes (always buy organic – vote with your dollars!).

8oz water
1 pack Sambazon Pure Fuzion Açaí frozen smoothie pack (combination of Açai and Vitamin C rich Acerola)
1 tablespoon raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons, Manitoba Harvest shelled hemp seed
1 tablespoon raw, unsalted almonds
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon Amazing Grass Green Superfood

* The Açaí in this smoothie delivers the monounsaturated Omega 9 foundation while polyunsaturated Omega 3 rich nuts & seeds ensure that my body’s EFA (essential fatty acid) needs are taken care of.

Note: Each of us has ancestors who evolved with different diets and so each of our bodies will respond a little differently to fats. Health-wise, there are few things more important than understanding how our own bodies react to fats. So get your cholesterol checked and choose the fats you intake wisely. Your body will thank you!

Happy Blending,
Skanda

Sambazon at NSSAs

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Nationals - the most elite amateur competitive surfing championships in the country – were hosted last month by Nike 6.0 at Sambazon’s home break, Trestles. The championships revealed the hottest up and coming surfers including winners Kolohe and Lakey. And like always, Sambazon was there to stoke out all the participants and keep the nutrition flowing. We just received a bunch of photos of the incredible competitors and onlookers that were fueling up on Sambazon açaí all weekend. Some names that come to mind: 2009 Champion Lakey Peterson, 2008 US Open Womans Champ Malia Manuel, FL ripper and aerial extraordinaire Eric Gisielman, New Team USA Coach Ian Carnies, Hawaii Legend and Sambazon ambassador Kahea Hart, 2009 NSSA National To Seed Tanner Hendrickson from Maui, and local 10 year old Griffin Colapinto in route to his 3rd place Open Mini Groms place at the 2009 NSSA Nationals.

Santa Barbara Surfers Paddle For A Cause

On May 12, two Santa Barbara surfers fueled by Sambazon Açaí, Nole Cossart and Chadd Konig, set out on a formidable journey to paddle from Gaviota (just north of Santa Barbara) to the Mexico boarder. Their journey, was crafted to raise awareness to the threat development poses to Gaviota – one of the remaining undeveloped and untainted coastlines left in California.

Traveling on paddleboards loaded with food, water, clothing, surfboards and camping gear, Nole and Chadd clocked an average of 15-20 miles per day – and by June 7th, after 300 miles and 28 days on the water) they triumphantly reached their destination at the US-Mexico Boarder.





Here is a sneak peak into Chadd’s journal from the voyage:

5/12/09
Laying upon grassy knoll. Bug just landed on the page. Sun going down behind hill. Wind blowing offshore. Paddle boards tucked away in bushes. This morning we departed from Gaviota now we will sleep at R-Beach. A few seals tagged along a wee bit. Dolphins greeted us at R-Beach. Throughout the day I got to rest me eyes open space and life. Now me belly full, warm clothes on, tarp laid out-sleeping bag as well! Make shift pillow. Water, Knife and thoughts of far off hills. Paddles were plenty today. Sun has lowered behind hills yet still lights the sands. A mushroom shaped piece of wood. Driftwood all over. Silhouettes. Warm hat on me head. Ocean sounds in me ears-will be there all night. Consistent-count on it. Wind is light at moment-cooling me sun warmed face. We arrived today at a beach of smiling folks. Laughs abundant and not a word shared. Eye contact and acknowledgement. Respect and shared space. Island outline. Birds in flight-yes the night! Sand still moving with water and light. Seaweed keeps some of the water glassy. Thank you day.

5/13/09
Woke wet with the sea. On wet grass. Step out of sleeping bag-wet yet warm. Collect all belongings and stuff the dry bag strategically. A wee dog begins barking at me. The ocean is moving in the direction we wish to travel. Southbound. The ocean carries us gently for the first few miles, then wind shifts and blows right as us. Bouncing us. Slowing us. Decide to head inside the kelp in hopes of calmer seas. As I navigated and clawed through the kelp I peeked over at the beach. An invited sight indeed. Dry, warm, rock formation providing a potential home. Turned board to land and beached. Immediately clothed meself, opened food bag and had at some fruit and nuts. Climb on the rocks for a bit-have a short vision a day on this hidden beach, yet decide to head south into the wind. Back in water, dolphins arrive immediately. Seal joins too. Sharing their home. I reach Leadbetter Point and the wind ceases. I look across-Hammonds Reef in sight. I pass the mile out buoy where seals bask in the sun and make seal songs. Next to the buoy are the seals who did not make the seal "buoy cut" or opted to stay in the water. They reach their flippers for the sky. One seal is persistent. Again and again propels itself onto the buoy...falls back, yelps and shamelessly splashes. Dives under, builds speed and has at it again. As I was about out of sight the seal succeeds. Positioned and ready for sun basking. Other seals snap at each other. Then I make a seal noise and they pause. Calm for a moment. Continue paddling and they continue their buoy party. As I pass a large fishing vessel three of the crew look out in my direction. One man, seems to be captain, has a hollar at me. Inquires bout my direction, "Where you headed?" I paddle closer and answer, "That beach over there-then south to the border." He smiles, looks at his crew and offers all his goods. A place to rest, food, beer, cigarette? I thank him and wish them a good day. They all wish me luck. Arrive at Hammonds-greeted again by dolphins. Unload and fill me belly.

For a complete summary of the voyage check out part 1, part II and part III.

The Green and Purple Trail

Jay Stafford, Sambazon’s friend and ambassador, has taken his summer tour on the road. Jay will be touring music festivals across the nation setting up his own Açaí stand and selling Sambazon goodness. Last weekend, Jay hit the Harmony Festival and here’s a quick update from the road...

"Well, the Trail is officially ablazin'...Harmony Festival was spectacular and the people were in love with acai all over again. It's easy to remind them why it is the best food at the festival. Just a little taste and there body tells them, "YES!" We tried out some new topping combos the goji berry, cacao nib, mulberry, and pistachio mix from Kopali (from hereon out called "Kopali Mix" on top of shredded coconut was very popular among luminaries and good old folks alike. I had five lovely ladies helping keep the booth afloat all weekend. At, Sierra Nevada, people were still ordering "Rasta Bowls," a classic acai berry blend topped with granola and shelled hemp seed from Manitoba Harvest, the best hemp on the market. And that was a kick because that's not on the menu. Great to see the reggae fans keeping it local."

To read more about Jay’s Green and Purple tour and to find out when he’s coming to a town near you, check him out on facebook!


Upcoming events:
* High Sierra Music Festival
Quincy, Ca
Thursday, July 2 at 10:00am

* Emrg N See
ten miles east of Salem, OR
Friday, July 17 at 2:00pm

* Mystic Garden Party
Jackson WellSprings
Thursday, July 23 at 9:00am

International Surfing Day, June 20th, 2009

International Surfing Day was created 5 years ago by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine to celebrate surfing and protect the quality of our ocean waters for future generations to come. Tomorrow’s the big day, and it will roll out with scheduled beach cleanups at nearly 100 beaches in the US and worldwide. We encourage all of you to get out there and help support the cause (plus there are going to be challenges and prizes to be won too!)

Sambazon will be out at Huntington Beach fueling the cleanup crew. So come find us!

Check out Surfing Magazine for more information and to find an event near you.

Dear & Yonder Summer Tour

We’ve been waiting for the premiere of Dear & Yonder all year! A surf movie created by Tiffany Campbell and Andria Lessler, Dear & Yonder is an epic ocean odyssey of the female kind. The summer screening tour starts in Cocoa Beach, FL this month, then travels to the West Coast and around the world. Hope to see you at one of the showings!





Full Tour Schedule:

CITY: Cocoa Beach, FL
LOCATION: Ron Jon Surf Shop (4151 N Atlantic Ave)
DATE & TIME: Friday, June 19th at 8pm
DETAILS: Part of the Roxy Design-A-Bikini promo starting at 5pm. Lots of fun activities and giveaways…all FREE!

CITY: San Clemente, CA
LOCATION: El Mariachi Restaurant (1925 S El Camino Real)
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, June 23rd at 8pm
DETAILS: Buy dinner and join the NSSA groms and Roxy team surfers for a casual movie night and free giveaways

CITY: Galveston, TX
LOCATION: Saengerfest Park (22nd & Strand)
DATE & TIME: Saturday, June 27th at 8:30pm
DETAILS: Bring your beach chairs and blankets and join Roxy team surfer Kassia Meador for this free outdoor premier and Roxy giveaways.

CITY: Encinitas, CA
LOCATION: La Paloma Theatre (471 S Coast Hwy 101)
DATE & TIME: Thursday, July 2nd at 7pm
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfers Lisa Andersen, Kassia Meador, Sofia Mulanovich and Sally Fitzgibbons for the official Southern California premier and Roxy giveaways. $5 ticket at the door.

CITY: Honolulu, HI
LOCATION: Doris Duke Theater (900 S Beretania St)
DATE & TIME: July 23rd & 24th (times TBA)
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfers for the Surf Film Festival at the Doris Duke Theater

CITY: Biarritz, France
LOCATION: St Eugénie in Biarritz during the Roxy Jam Biarritz
DATE & TIME: Saturday, July 11th at 10pm
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfers for the Roxy Jam Biarritz surf festival

CITY: Venice, CA
LOCATION: TBA
DATE & TIME: Friday, July 17th
DETAILS: TBA

CITY: Ventura, CA
LOCATION: TBA
DATE & TIME: TBA
DETAILS: TBA

CITY: Grand Haven, MI
LOCATION: Grand Haven City Beach
DATE & TIME: Saturday, July 18th at dusk (around 9:30pm)
DETAILS: Bring your beach chairs and blankets and join Roxy team surfer and former World Champion Sofia Mulanovich for this FREE outdoor premier, great music and Roxy giveaways.

CITY: Hampton Beach, NH
LOCATION: Ashworth by the Sea in the Sandbar (295 Ocean Blvd)
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, July 28th at 8:30pm
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfer Kassia Meador for this free outdoor movie premier and Roxy giveaways

CITY: Brooklyn, NY
DATE: Thursday, July 30th
DETAILS: Art show and movie premier with Roxy and Paper Magazine. Invite Only

CITY: Olympia, WA
LOCATION: Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE)
DATE & TIME: Saturday, August 1st at 7pm
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfer Kassia Meador for the Washington premier and Roxy giveaways. $5 ticket at the door.

CITY: Portland, OR
LOCATION: TBA
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, August 4th (time TBA)
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfer Kassia Meador for the Oregon premier and Roxy giveaways.

CITY: Vancouver, Canada
LOCATION: Grace Gallery (1898 Main Street at 3rd)
DATE & TIME: Thursday, August 6th at 8pm
DETAILS: Art show and movie premier

CITY: San Francisco, CA
LOCATION: Potrero Del Sol Skate Park (25th & Utah)
DATE & TIME: Saturday, August 8th (time TBA)
DETAILS: Art show & movie premier

CITY: Avalon, NJ
LOCATION: Avalon Community Hall (3001 Avalon Ave)
DATE & TIME: Thursday, August 13th at 7pm
DETAILS: Proceeds from this event will benefit Brendan’s Fund, a pediatric cancer fund. For more details visit www.brendansfund.org

CITY: Hermosa Beach, CA
LOCATION: Saint Rocke (142 S Pacific Coast Hwy)
DATE & TIME: Friday, August 14th at 8pm (doors open at 5pm)
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfers for FREE Roxy giveaways, a movie premier and great music. Visit www.saintrocke.com for tickets

CITY: Santa Cruz, CA
LOCATION: Pie Ranch (2080 Cabrillo Hwy)
DATE & TIME: Friday, August 14th (time TBA)
DETAILS: TBA

CITY: San Clemente, CA
LOCATION: Surfing Heritage Foundation (110 Calle Iglesia)
DATE & TIME: Friday, August 21st at dusk
DETAILS: For details & tickets visit www.surfingheritage.org

CITY: Wilmington, NC
LOCATION: Lumina Theater on UNCW campus (601 S College Rd)
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, August 26th at 7pm
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfers for a FREE movie premier and Roxy giveaways

CITY: Virginia Beach, VA
LOCATION: Waterman’s Surfside Grille (415 Atlantic Ave)
DATE & TIME: Thursday, August 27th at 8pm
DETAILS: Bring your beach chairs and blankets and join Roxy team surfers and ECSC groms for a FREE outdoor movie premier and Roxy giveaways

CITY: Oceanside, CA
LOCATION: Swiv Tackle Circus (530 S Coast Hwy)
DATE & TIME: Saturday, September 19th (time TBA)
DETAILS: Join Roxy team surfers and the Keep-A-Breast Foundation for an art show and movie premier

2009 Summer Speaker Series at The Ecology Center

Our friends at the San Juan Capistrano Ecology Center are hosting the first ever Summer Speaker Series this summer to address the issue of Basic Needs – food, water, shelter, and clothing. Fulfilling these basic needs has an inherent impact on our communities and environment. Guest speakers will discuss how to make a positive environmental impact in how we choose to live our lives.

This will serve as a forum where the residents of Orange County can explore these crucial topics with cutting-edge thinkers from a variety of backgrounds:

June 18th: Food
Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market

July 9th: Water
Emily Pilloton, Project H Design

August 13th: Shelter
Matthew Miller, Appropriate Architecture

August 27th: Clothing
Erik Joule, Levi’s
Johnny Schillereff, Element Skateboards
Roian Atwood, Sole Technologies
Derek Sabori, Volcom V.Co-logical Series

Join us for an evening of conversation, 6:30-9PM, wine and beer, and light fare.
Registration for these unique events is $15/members, $25/non-members. Guests can sign up via The Ecology Center's website, or call The Ecology Center at 949.442.4223.

If you’re not able to make this, we encourage you to do a quick google search to find and get involved with a local ecology center near you.

Real Deal Açaí Blog Series: Part 6 - Something for Everybody

Last month I had the pleasure of sampling out some of our new products at Denver’s first ‘Greenfest’. As I stood in front of the booth to make sure our display was dialed in, I couldn’t help but smile to myself about how many awesome products we now have available and how far we’ve come. It all started with our Original Acai Rio Blend and Amazon Cherry frozen smoothie packs in the summer of 2000. Up and down the coast of Southern California, Juice bars, cafés and restaurants made a variety of smoothies and acai bowls using these frozen smoothie packs. People loved the smoothies made from these products and it didn’t take long for the acai bowl experience to catch on too. The success of the frozen smoothie packs in rootsy SoCal eateries led to them being picked up by Whole Foods Market and many of the natural foods stores across the nation.

Thanks to the popularity of the original frozen smoothie packs in natural foods markets, we were able to expand our acai offerings to bottled juices, sorbet pints and freeze dried acai supplements. Now we even offer a line of 32oz (family sized) acai beverages that folks just can’t seem to get enough of the 32oz bottles. I wish my family had a 32oz bottle of acai juice on the breakfast table when I was kid!

In addition to the buzz around the new 32oz, family sized acai beverages; I was amazed at the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our 3 organic energy drinks . Energy drink lovers at Denver Greenfest were so happy to see that they can now look to Sambazon for delicious energy drinks that not only work but are actually organic too! Checkout the new Jungle Love, packed full of aphrodisiac herbs and Diet Amazon Energy which was created utilizing the natural, low calorie sweetener stevia.

I had the pleasure of meeting all kinds of people at Denver Greenfest and it was seriously cool to have ‘something for everybody’. Keep your eyes peeled for even more variety cuz it doesn’t stop here. And now you can find Sambazon products at a rapidly increasing number of conventional supermarkets too! Click here to search our retailer finder for a list of stores near you . Look for more new Sambazon products in 2010. I actually just sampled a couple new top secret products and they were insanely awesome – yeah! And, if you can’t seem to find the Sambazon products you love in the stores where you shop – don’t hesitate to ask the store managers to start stocking our stuff! Let us know if you have any success getting it on the shelf in your local stores, and we’ll send you a little ‘thank you’ just from us!


Your Friend,

-Skanda

Açaí- a positive force in the Amazon

In 2000 we first experienced Açaí and observed that it had become a huge success within Brazil and was destined for international fame. We also recognizing that this non-timber forest product (NTFP) had the potential to become a sustainable force in the Amazon Rainforest rather than an exploitive industry as countless others had before it (sugarcane, soy). As social entrepreneurs, we set out on a mission to prove the case for sustainable development in the Amazon and founded Sambazon - “Sustainable Management of the Brazilian Amazon”. We developed a Fair Trade “market driven conservation” business model around bringing açaí to the worldwide marketplace that would ensure positive environmental and social development in the açaí harvest regions – thus linking each dollar of sales with economic and environmental gain on the ground, fighting poverty and protecting biodiversity and social justice. We knew that with sound business practices and a lot of hard work, Açaí could be an overwhelmingly positive impact for the local communities and the environment.

Today all of the hundreds of independent family farmers and cooperatives we work with are USDA Organic certified and have been assisted and/or trained in wild crop harvesting to ensure a sustainable source of the fruit. We remain the first and only source of Açaí to be certified Ecocert Fair Trade, providing sustainable employment for over 3,000 people and fostering environmental stewardship on over 1.7 million acres of biodiverse agro-forestry farms in Amapá and Pará States. Both the IEPA (Institute for Environmental Research of Amapá State) and the IBAMA (Brazil's equivalent of the EPA) have officially confirmed that Sambazon’s açaí extraction does not harm the environment.

Sambazon’s efforts in developing industry standards over the years have been felt on a large scale, working directly with the Brazilian authorities on Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). This influence has caused significant positive change throughout the entire Açaí supply chain, from the tree to the processing plants to the community at large.

In 2003, as part of our commitment to our mission, Sambazon founded the Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP), a public and private collaboration with the Brazil Foundation and the Peabiru Institute to ensure the lasting sustainable management of the Açaí regions and communities in the Amazon. From inception, this organization has been supported by the Nature’s Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, and through collaboration from its partners, the SAP has been able to add value to the social, environmental, and economic issues for thousands of families and acreage. This has included Açaí training programs, technical assistance, establishment of baseline bio-social indicators for future statistical evaluation, sustainability programs and alternative income generating activities for thousands of woman, youth and small family farmers.

But it’s not just us saying this: Greenpeace, claimed that Açaí may be one of the best ways to "save the rainforest". The Royal Tropical Institute, stated that "Sambazon's work with açaí is aimed to contribute to sustainability in the Amazon Rainforest and alleviate poverty". We also received the 2006 “US Secretary of State Award for Corporate Excellence" from Condoleezza Rice along with the Ashoka Organization’s 2006 Changemakers Innovation Awards: "Market Based Strategies to Benefit Low Income Communities".

We are proud to have built a state of the art Açaí plant in the State of Amapá, which has become the global reference for excellence in Açaí processing. Run by Brazilians, our plant has developed leading edge manufacturing technologies and new açaí products and remains an environmental and industrial relations landmark in the Açaí industry.

Recently, an article was published in the press which irresponsibly suggested that a “Superfood on Oprah (Açaí) was robbing the Amazon poor of their staple”. To the contrary, Açaí has been the source of significant economic gain for the Amazon’s poor family farmers and fortunately when harvested in a way which is consistent with Sambazon’s benchmark industry practices, protects the bio-diversity of the world’s most important source of flora, fauna and scientific potential. It is true that the local price of Açaí has risen over the last 20 years as one might expect when it is “discovered”. But it is also true that 98% of this fruit has been purchased and consumed in Brazil. Further, the increased prices have resulted in a better standard of living and financial freedom to thousands of family farms, not to some multinational. Supporting family farmers while protecting the world’s most important rainforest is what Sambazon’s mission has been all along.

Yesterday, Fox News gave us the opportunity to go on national television and tell the plain facts. I encourage you to check out the segment here and help us spread the word so we can continue to make positive change in the Amazon Rainforest and beyond.

Sincerely,

Ryan Black
Founder and CEO

Earth Day, turned Earth Week, turned Earth Forever! (Part 1)

We celebrate our Earth for one day a year officially, but this usually turns into a week of Earth Day events, positive people doing positive things, raising awareness. We participated in our fair share too, supporting events like Bob Burnquist’s Earth Day at his Megaramp ranch,



the eco launch of our newest product Amazon Energy Jungle Love in Hollywood,



Earth Day at Camp Pendleton,



Yoga Shakti,



And many more including,
Volcom Earth Day Event – Orange County
Reef/Transwolrd Earth Day Beach Cleanup - Oceanside
San Juan Capistrano Middle School Earth Day Celebration
San Juan Ecology Center Earth Day Celebration
Franklin Zoo Earth Day - Boston
Sammy and Sue Book Launch - NYC
The Lab Earth Day Events - OC
HeadSets and Highballs Cocktail Hour – NYC
Element Skateboards Earth Day Beach Cleanup – Florida
MIT Sustainability Conference – Boston

In everything we do, we live and we breathe, we try to spread messages of sustainability and healthy living to create a happy future for us all. Now that Earth Day is over and done, Sambazon’s message stays the same, our local harvesters continue to sustainably wild harvest organic açaí for fair wages, our factory continues to increase it’s ability to run on biofuel and process açaí more efficiently, people all around the world continue to support what we do. In the end, Earth Day is just a reminder to live consciously – we will continue to do all we can to help keep the earth and ourselves happy and healthy – spread the love!

Photos from more events on the way!

JoeMotion’s Power Smoothie

Check out how Joe makes his açaí bowl with organic fruits harvested from his own backyard.

Notre Dame student hasn't missed a day of açaí

Hey Team Sambazon,

Here's my story on the creation of my morning açaí bowls:

For over the past year, I have yet to still miss a day of eating an açaí bowl. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, my genuine passion for Sambazon has grown into what my friends at home and college call it Guz's "lifestyle". Growing up on Oahu, you can find me bodyboarding at my local spots (Makapu'u, Sandy's, Waimea, and Pipeline), as well as trying to find every juice bar on the island with açaí bowls (Diamond Head Cove, Jewel or Juice, Lanikai Juice, Kava Roots...), even the stand on the side of the road near Sunset Beach.

I'm currently a senior at the University of Notre Dame, where I've been making bowls every day since last August. I've converted my desk into a crazy juice bar (there's nothing but ingredients and bowls, & thanks for the Sambazon stickers in February), sharing the happiness of açaí with friends. On average, I make three to four bowls a day for people who come to my room (free of charge), trying to spread the word around, and every Saturday morning sees about 10-15 close friends coming with their own fruits for me to custom make their açaí bowls. Making the açaí bowls is filled with laughter, fun, and memorable experiences. Before ordering it online through your website, I would bring boxes of ingredients(Acai packs, Hemp Granola/Seeds, Bee Pollen, Agave Nectar....) from either Hawaii, LA, SF, or Chicago, since there's not much organic options in South Bend, Indiana. It's a cool feeling to bring something new to the Midwest. Through trial and error, and sampling the best bowls in Hawaii, I've come up with a personal favorite in providing energy. Whether it's before doing my daily yoga in my dorm room, hitting the beaches back home in Hawaii, or working in investment banking (da killer 100+hour work weeks) in Los Angeles after graduation, I know this bowl will always make me happy. Thank you Team Sambazon, I believe in your company, it's mission, and the life it brings to everyone.

-Christian


-------------------

Da Surfer Bowl:



















Blend: blend until thick
2 Smoothie Packs - Original Acai
8 oz. Vita Coco 100% Coconut Water

Hand Mix: stir the berries whole into the blended acai while in the blender
1/2 cup of Blueberries (frozen)
1/2 cup of Blackberries (frozen)
1/4 cup of Goji berries (usually dried)

Layering the Bowl: place on bottom for crunchy goodness and surprise
1/2 cup of Nature's Path Hemp Granola
-then pour the acai mix from blender

Topping the Bowl: fresh cut fruits and other amazing stuff
1 banana
1 pineapple
1 strawberry
1 tbsp. Manitoba's Shelled Hemp Seeds
1 oz. Madhava Raw Agave Nectar
1 tbsp. of Bee Pollen

Coachella 2009

This year, Sambazon set up camp in two tents, one in general admission and one in VIP, and we brought out our entire marketing and event team to run the show.










We handed out açaí bowls, smoothies and juices to the masses... And to the loyal fans that tell us they look forward to getting their açaí bowl at every Coachella. Lines really backed up mid-afternoon when the temperatures topped 105 degrees and everyone was searching for something cold and nourishing.







We raffled off an authentic fender guitar!












And Sam, our lucky winner of Sambazon’s VIP package stopped by for a bowl with her friends on her way to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Devendra Banhart, and of course, the long awaited Cure.







All in all, we stoked out crowds of happy people and took in some great performances ourselves. If you were out there, it was great to see you, and if not, stop by next year!

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Samantha Serrano of Huntington Beach, she picked up our Coachella VIP package, and she’ll be scoring some Sambazon açaí for the entire weekend!

Win a pair of Sambazon VIP passes to Coachella!

Sign up for our raffle and enter to win a pair of complete VIP passes for you and a friend to Coachella this weekend! Plus we'll hook you up with free açaí to munch on while you're there... because you'll for sure be craving it when the desert heat hits.

ENTER THE RAFFLE!!!

Contest ends Thursday, April 16, 2009.

Sambazon Comes to Seattle

Greeting Sambazonians,

Well Sambazon is growing so quickly that we are constantly looking for new places to spread the word about this amazing purple berry. Next stop, Seattle, Washington. This week Christa (our national demo coordinator) and I headed to the Pacific Northwest to get everyone hooked on Sambazon. We poured samples at in store demos, talked to thousands of people at Vegetarian Festival, and this weekend we will be out at Green Festival to stoke even more people on Sambazon Açaí.

Its been an interesting trip so far, lots of rain and sketchy weather but we came out full force. People were amped to finally try the real experience of açaí. A majority of people have heard of açaí and its nutritional benefit here in Seattle but they were introduced to in via the internet, email spam, and advertisements. It was amazing to educate people on the truth about açaí and how Sambazon is the global leader in the market. One women actually came up to meet at a demo in Safeway and proclaimed “hey I read about you guys in the New York Times article, you guys are the legit açaí company” its that type of feedback that makes our time in Seattle well worth it.

This weekend is Green Festival where we will be sampling our 10.5 oz juices and smoothies as well as Amazon Energy so come check us out at booth 1223.

Cameron Faist

Real Deal Açaí Blog Series: Part 5 - Sambazon Versus the Competition

Ok, so here’s the deal... It goes without saying that there are an incredible amount of companies in the açaí game these days. Naturally, each new company does their best to differentiate their açaí product and market its advantages. News articles on Monavie have pointed out that it only contains 20% açaí and is a blend of a large variety of fruit juices. We’ve also learned that one, individual 100g Sambazon smoothie pack (avg. retail price $1.25), has more açaí than an entire $40 bottle of Monavie. The fact of the matter is the more we look into other açaí products, the more we find that this kind of thing isn’t unusual. We’ve of course become familiar with the claims being made by Monavie and others around potency too...

We fell so deeply in love with açaí that we went to the Amazon to find the freshest, most delicious and potent açaí in the world – a kind of pilgrimage to the fruit’s source. When we learned locals made more money selling açaí than non-renewable forest products, we became obsessed by the pursuit of bringing the highest quality açaí products to the world and have spent the last 9 years dialing in our quality driven processing protocols and growing our conservation project. In 2006 we finished building the most beautiful, tricked out, stainless steal açaí factory you can imagine (really, it’s that insanely awesome), in a super remote town, right on the equator, in the middle of the açaí harvest. The factory has more certifications than a Harvard scholar and was built right on the river. The fruit is delivered by boat right to the factory’s dock and immediately processed. Sambazon Açaí products are always completely Organic = no artificial colors, preservatives or GMOs, Fair Trade, Gluten free, Dairy free and Kosher. We offer a wide range of premium açaí products including our Pure Açaí (sugar free) frozen smoothie packs. Rest assured, there is a method to our madness and we’re constantly thinking of ways to increase the value of our customer’s purchase. Please tell us what products you really want us to make for you by contacting us at info@sambazon.com.

NOTE: ALL CANADIANS – Firstly, you guys are cool. Secondly GOOD NEWS, our frozen smoothie packs can be obtained from any natural foods store in Canada. Here’s how: There are two major distributors of natural foods in Canada from which pretty much every natural foods store in Canada orders. Both of these distributors carry Sambazon Açaí smoothie packs. And so, all you have to do is call the natural foods store that is closest to you and tell them you’d like them to order Sambazon Açaí smoothie packs for you. The store may even be willing to pass on a discount to you if you choose to buy by the case! The names of the two distributors are Horizon out of Vancouver and ONFC out of Ontario. Did you know our frozen smoothie packs are the most potent source of açaí of any açaí product available – It’s true! And they’re our favorite way to make real deal açaí bowls and smoothies too!


Your Friend,

-Skanda

Rochelle Ballard’s Sunset Smoothie

Check out our visit with Rochelle at her amazing home right on Sunset Beach, and see how she makes her morning Açaí Smoothie.

By Hans Rey (Mountain Bike Freeride Pioneer, Trials World Champion, Founder of Wheels 4 Life)

The big news is that I got married to Carmen in November and that I also received my US citizenship in October. Despite my broken leg (Feb. 08) I had a fantastic and busy year. The highlights were my adventures and work for my charity ‘Wheels 4 Life’ in Tanzania.

I ended the year with a skiing trip in Livigno in the Italian Alps, not only a great place for skiing, but really good for biking in the summertime. I spent the Holidays with my new family in England. I even competed in a moto-trials event and got nice rides in, even though the weather was quite cold and miserable.

When I’m on the road I usually bring some açaí powder, but this time I just brought a whole box of frozen açaí smoothie packs, couldn’t bear the thought of being cut off for too long from my homemade smoothie creations. My latest ingredients discoveries include canned leeches fruit, they taste so good with soymilk, banana and CLIF Vanilla Protein powder.

Today I added the CLIF electrolyte replacement drink powder (cran – razz flavor), its awesome, and when I’m hungry in the mornings I just add cereal to the blender or on top of my bowl. Try it and stay tuned.

More info at: www.hansrey.com, www.wheels4life.org
Follow my day on Twitter.com: http://twitter.com/HansNoWayRey

Hans

Rest in Peace, Hélio Gracie 1913 - 2009

Written by Travis Baumgardner, Sustainability Officer

Hélio Gracie passed away today peacefully in his home in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro at the full age of 95. He leaves behind his wife and 9 sons.

He was a living martial arts legend who pioneered together with his brother Carlson, the special Brazilian style of Jiu-Jitsu. He gained worldwide fame and recognition for developing a unique fighting style which allowed him to defeat opponents almost twice his size with relative ease, despite being mostly vegetarian and only weighing around 140 lbs during his professional fighting career.

Hélio also spent his entire life dedicated to promoting his family’s healthy lifestyle through sport and the Gracie diet, which had açaí as one its main superfood staples. The diet is based on three concepts, not poisoning the body, taking care of the body and respecting in one meal the adequate chemical combinations of different types of food. Food is viewed instead as a remedy that can nourish and cure the body.

Though many know very well Helio’s Jiu-Jitsu legacy, many do not know that Hélio was a native Amazonian, a “Paraense”, raised in the heart of the world’s açaí epicenter. His cultural upbringing consisted of eating açaí every day together with rice, beans and fish.

Many credit the brothers Helio and Carlos for bringing açaí outside of the Amazon to southern metropolitan regions of Brasil like Rio de Janeiro. At fourteen his family moved to Rio de Janeiro and subsequently created the açaí bowl and diffused the healthy eating habit throughout the Jiu-Jitsu community. The Gracie family’s Açaí Bowl is the same thick smoothie like frozen mixture made of açaí puree, Guarana Syrup, Banana and Granola that we all have come to love today and which first became popular in juice bars of Rio de Janeiro.

God bless you Hélio for bringing us açaí and inspiring us to live better and healthier lifestyles!

Sambazon keeping me on the go

My name is Tom Rezvan and I am a sponsored Sambazon surfer from Huntington Beach, CA. I was first introduced to Sambazon Açaí a few years back when visiting a Brazilian friend of mine living in South Beach Miami. I have always cared about my health and have been eating raw live foods that contain high alkaline for years. Up until being introduced to Sambazon Açaí I had been juicing wheatgrass every morning for energy, which can leave a uncomfortable taste in your mouth. But once I tasted Sambazon Açaí for the first time I was I instantly hooked! It is one of the highest antioxidant foods in the world with a great taste! I now blend a shake every morning with Sambazon Pure Açaí packs combined with a banana, soy milk, and whey protein powder. This gives me enough energy to surf for hours! If I am in a hurry and the waves are really good and I don't have time to make a shake... I will grab a bottle of Sambazon and drink it in my car on the way to surf. Either making a shake or drinking a bottle of Sambazon... I know I am getting the proper nutrients to give me the energy for my surf sessions.

Thanks to everyone at Sambazon for bringing this Super Food to the U.S. and keeping everyone healthy.

- Tom