Carmel Magazine

Brazilian Superfood Comes to Carmel SHORTCUTS BUSINESS 62 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 N ative to Central and South America, the açai palm produces a love- ly, black-purple berry that many call a "superfood" due to its antiox- idant and other nutritional content. Acai has become highly popular in the United States, and Carmel-based Vita Forte Inc. is in the catbird seat. "More than 80 percent—nearly 570 tons—of the freeze-dried acai sold each year in the US goes through Vita Forte," says co-founder and President Carlos Forte. Vita Forte—"strong life"—was formed in 2011 by Forte and his wife Gabriela, a highly accomplished chef, specifically to freeze dry "superfoods." The berries are imported from the Fortes' native Brazil and processed at the company's Modesto freeze- drying facility. In addition to acai, Vita Forte prod- ucts include acerola cherry, camu camu, goji berry and maca root. "This is a segment of the food market that is growing," Forte says. "And it's growing fast." The technology of freeze-drying—known among the lab-coat set as "cryodessication"—has been around a long time. It's essentially a method of removing water from foods while retaining their nutritional components—think of those strawberries in Kellogg's Special-K "Red Berries." But Forte thinks outside the cereal box. "We're taking freeze-drying to the next level," he says. For example, Vita Forte is now marketing freeze-dried coconut water. It contains more potassium and electrolytes and less sugar and calories than Gatorade. The powdered prod- uct comes in several different flavors, including pineapple, orange and lemon, and can be mixed with bottled water to make a delicious and hydrating drink. "In the US, we eat bad food," says Forte. "It's cheap, but we end up giv- ing that extra money to a doctor in the long run." But that doesn't mean good foods have to be bland or not fun. Another new Vita Forte product line is an acai smoothie, a delicious frozen yogurt-like treat available local- ly at Good to Go in the Crossroads Carmel. Learn more about Vita Forte at www.vitaforteinc.com —Michael Chatfield The acai berry is native to Brazil, and has taken the US by storm, being very high in antioxidants. Vita Forte, start- ed by Carlos and Gabriela Forte in 2011, produces nutritious freeze-dried acai, goji berry, and acerola cherry. Photo: Kelli Uldall

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