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Heart of Palm is the central part (heart) of certain wild palms native of the sylvan and Amazon regions. This plant has suffered an adaptation process, thus, becoming a cultivated and industrialized spice. Main improved heart of palm variety is "Bactris Gasipaes", known in Ecuador as "Chontaduro" and in Costa Rica as "Pejibaye". For many years, Brazil have been producing uncultivated heart of palm spices, "Euterpe", and "Edulis" (Southern Coast Region), and "Oleracea" known as "Acaí" (Northern region). Brazil's heart of palm wild cultivation have result in a great detriment to ecological environment. As Brasil has a large Amazon territory heart of palm uncultivated production have had enormous success, taking into account they do not need to take care of facilities or crop costs. During the 50's-60's Brazil began with uncultivated heart of palm international marketing. Heart of palm is considered an exotic "gourmet" commodity, wherefore it has a high monetary value. Main world consumer is France. During 1983 Brazil's exports to France were approximately 95.69 percent of this country consumption. Because Brazilian's heart of palm did not secure a prime quality product, for 1994 this country exports' (to France) declined to half. Such a situation allowed Ecuador to be counted among main heart of palm suppliers. During 1994 Costa Rica accounted for 27.35 percent of French imports, while Ecuadorian share was 4.12 percent with a rising tendency. Ecuadorian main producer Provinces are: Esmeraldas: Quinindé, La Concordia, San Lorenzo, Cayapas; Pichincha: Pedro Vicente Maldonado, Santo Domingo, Puerto Quito; Manabí: Nueva Delicia; Morona Santiago: Yaupi; Pastaza: Sarayacu, Teniente Hugo Ortiz; Napo: Loreto, Coca, Nueva Rocafuerte; Sucumbíos: Nueva Loja, Shushufindi. These zones have a warm-wet tropical climate which allows also African palm, banana, rubber, and macadamia production among others.
There are certain differences between cultivated and uncultivated heart of palm: ecological environment detriment aforementioned; cultivated heart of palm high-quality, soil humidity level can be controled in order to obtain a better quality commodity. "Bactris Gasipaes" palm is a multi-purposes tree: it produces an edible fruit rich in starch, oils, proteins, and carotene; heart of palm. Usually heart of palm fruit has a big seed, others are seedless. It is used as a cooked, toasted legume. Also it is processed to obtain oil, and like animal food. Risk & Investment Return: Production Phase | Directory
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