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Revision as of 20:07, 14 August 2020

Sambazon, Inc. is a privately held American company based in San Clemente, California and founded in 2000. The company makes and sells açaí-based food and beverages. All Sambazon products are USDA-certified Organic, Non-GMO Project verified, naturally gluten free and fair trade. The variety of açaì-based smoothies, juices, and other Sambazon smoothies are sold in packs sometimes.

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 US, the company started by selling frozen açaí pulp to juice bars in southern California, but now has distribution networks across the US, 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.

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 their 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 biodiverse 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 to generate profits by creating jewelry that utilizes 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 United States Secretary of State’s 2006 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) – Small-Medium Business Category.

Lawsuits

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in Amapá accused Sambazon and its CEO for exploiting the genetic heritage of açaí without the authorization of the Management and Genetic Heritage Council (Cgen). Judicially, the MPF issued a fine of more than R $ 70 million in compensation for material damages to the environment and collective moral damages. The MPF also has ordered the company to stop using Brazilian açaí in its products until it obtains regular registration with Cgen.

In addition to illegal access to açaí, it was also confirmed that the companies of the Sambazon Group failed to share the benefits resulting from the use of the Brazilian genetic heritage, violating national and international standards that deal with the issue.

According to a representation from the Rio Baiano Intercommunity Development Association (Asdicorb) to the Attorney's Office in Pará, in 2008, the company Sambazon sought out people from the community and nearby areas with the proposal of “socially fair and environmentally sustainable” marketing. In practice, however, the company did not cooperate, nor did it justly and equally share any benefits with the traditional peoples of the Amazon. The riverside community felt injured at the end of the business with the Sambazon Group. Source: Amazonia.org.br

The claims

Notes

1. McCuan, Jess (October 1, 2008) “Passions: Ryan Black, CEO of Sambazon” Inc.
2. Hainer, Michelle (June 27, 2013) “When There’s No Time to Eat, Try These Nutritious Drinks”
3. Fuller, David (February 2013) “Thanks to Sambazon, Açaí Berries Benefit Consumers and Growers” Costco Connection.
4. “Sambazon: Making trees in the rainforest ‘too valuable to cut down’” Retrieved 1 January 2014. opic.gov.
5. Shilander, Jim (March 21, 2013) “San Clemente’s Own Brand of Superfood” San Clemente Times.
6. Watson, Elaine (January 3, 2013) “Sambazon and the Genesis of an Amazonian Super Food Empire” Food Navigator-USA.
7. Tischner, Ursula. “Case Studies in Sustainable Consumption and Production: Food and Agriculture” (Greenleaf Publishing, 2010) Pg 165-170
8. Cheeseman, Gina-Marie (December 1, 2010) “How Sustainability is Embedded in Sambazon” The Guardian.
9. Fuller, David (February 2013) “Thanks to Sambazon, Açaí Berries Benefit Consumers and Growers” Costco Connection.
10. Baker, Allison “Healthy Food Awards: Drinks” Retrieved 21 October 2013. SELF Magazine.
11. Staff (September 7, 2012) “125 Best Packaged Foods” Women’s Health.
12. “BevNET.com's Best of 2012” Retrieved 28 October 2013. BevNet.
13. Bill, Bruce (October 2012) "InterBev Awards 2012 Finalists and Winners Announced” FoodBev.com. Retrieved November 11, 2013
14. VanBuskirk, Maggie (July 25, 2013) “Snack Awards 2011: The 20 Best Low-Calorie Snacks” Archived 2015-01-13 at the Wayback Machine SHAPE Magazine.
15. (November 8, 2006) “Sambazon Named Winner of The Secretary of State's 2006 Award for Corporate Excellence” NewHope360.

• Companies established in 2000
• Food and drink companies of the United States
• Açaí
• Greenwashing