Feira do açaí: etnografia da cadeia produtiva do açaí in natura em Belém/Pará

Abstract

Through a multi-situated ethnography, this dissertation intends to map the commodity chain of the Amazonian forest product, açaí (Euterpe oleracea) in natura and its sociability relations. Accordingly, fieldwork was undertaken in three cities that are highly important for the productive and commercialization spaces of açaí: Belém, Igarapé-Miri and Barcarena. Drawing on ethnographic data unpublished documents as well as academic literature, this dissertation develops a socio-genesis of the ‘Açaí Market’. Its historical features and influences are identified, the modus operandi, and the plurality of socio-professional categories that engender it. These include, “Peconheiros” (those that climb and harvest the fruit) , “carregadores” (carriers), “juntador” (collectors), “marreteiro de beira” (estuarine sellers), “marreteiro de rio” (sellers on the rivers), “vendedor” (simple sellers), “maquineiros” (those responsible for providing the açaí processing machines), “distribuidor” (distributors), “freteiro” (transporters), “produtor” (growers), “morador” (residents), and “vigia” (security guards), revealing that the sociability relations are not limited to the boundaries of the ‘Açaí Market’, but they go through the areas of production and extraction of açaí.