In the darkness before dawn, thousands of Amazonian river dwellers fill their large\r\nwoven baskets with purple, pebble-sized açaí fruit and make the trip in small canoes or\r\nlarge boats to the scattered outdoor markets of the city of Belém. As the boats near Vero-Peso, the largest market at the mouth of the Amazon River, a seller shouts, “blood of\r\nthe cow!” Buyers run to the boat, pressing their nails into the fruits to see if they are of\r\ngood quality. “Blood of the cow” is a local reference for the meaty açaí fruit with winecoloured pulp. From an age of six months, children of eastern Amazonia drink açaí juice.\r\nAs one fairgoer says, “At a young age, the intestines of the Paráense natives are already\r\naccustomed to açaí.” And with great benefits – açaí is being touted as a “super fruit” for its\r\nanti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. Because of its growing reputation,\r\ndemand for açaí is expanding around the world.