Free distribution of açaí with fried fish marks the beginning of the Açaí Pará Festival in Belém
About three thousand workers, merchants, and even visitors from other neighborhoods participated in the 'Avuado'
Resident of the Condor neighborhood, Odailza Almeida, and her granddaughter, Manuela, woke up even before the sun rose this Thursday (12), with a common goal. Like them, other enthusiasts of the typical fruit of Pará – açaí – went early to the Porto do Açaí, in the Jurunas neighborhood, to taste the "avuado" (açaí with fried fish), distributed for free as part of the Açaí Pará Festival program, whose third edition will be officially opened this Friday (13) at the Hangar Convention Center.
Both the grandmother and the granddaughter took the opportunity to savor the traditional dish from Pará. For the program in Jurunas alone, 300 kilos of fish and 300 liters of açaí were distributed. Odailza Almeida said that her 4-year-old granddaughter is in love with açaí, just like the whole family. And the curious detail is that the child was not born in Pará.
“She is from São Paulo. She is with us here in Pará, but she fell in love with açaí. She can't go without drinking it, and today we couldn't miss out because it's being given for free here. Everything is very good. As the song says: whoever goes to Pará stops. Drank açaí, stayed. That was the case with my granddaughter,” said the resident of Condor.
Retiree Ferreira de Araújo also traveled from one neighborhood to another to enjoy the program. He lives in the Pedreira neighborhood, learned about the event through media coverage, and didn't think twice. He woke up early and crossed the city to taste the "avuado". He said he arrived even before the program started.
Event marks the arrival of the açaí harvest
“I like açaí; this one is good; I think this initiative to distribute açaí with fish for free is great, and on top of that, to hold a festival to mark the arrival of the harvest and honor açaí. It deserves it. I believe this year the harvest will be better than last year,” believes Ferreira.
The director of fairs and markets at the Secretary of Agricultural Development and Fishing (Sedap), responsible for organizing the festival, Manoel Rendeiro, better known as “Didi do Ver-o-Peso,” reiterated that the festival marks the arrival of the product's harvest.
Didi highlighted that this year the event coordination inverted and first held the “avuado.” All workers from the Porto do Açaí, as well as others present, were invited to participate in the program that will be held at the Hangar this Friday and Saturday.
“This is what strengthens us and makes us hold the Açaí Festival; the arrival of this very good harvest, we will show society that açaí is from Pará, and we will stand firm, along with our governor, our vice-governor, and with the support of the Legislative Assembly (Alepa), we will tell the world: we are the largest producers of açaí on the planet, açaí is from Pará,” he emphasized.
During the opening of the program in Jurunas, Alepa was represented by Deputy Carlos Bordalo. He said that açaí is definitively occupying the place it has always deserved in the economy and social life of the people of Pará. He recalled that the product is the second largest item on the State's export agenda, only losing to mining.
“Açaí is the most important item in the dietary habits of the people of Pará; it employs thousands and thousands of people, perhaps it is the activity that generates the most jobs in Pará, so for the third year, the State Government, coordinated by Sedap, is holding the festival. We are working in the Legislative Assembly to create laws so that the açaí chain consolidates sustainably in Pará,” the parliamentarian emphasized.
Workers like Bruno Almeida, who earns his living daily at the Porto do Açaí, approve of this type of program and incentive for the appreciation of the product from Pará. He, who also enjoyed açaí with fried fish last year during the festival, said he was happy to participate again in the “avuado.”
“I approve of holding a festival like this that the government is organizing. Many people need the appreciation of açaí, just like me, who have been working here for eight years; thousands of workers depend on açaí,” he observed.
Training - The coordinator of good practices for açaí, Marivaldo Ferreira, explained that every year many people start to make a living from açaí in Pará. The State Government, through Sedap, frequently conducts training to ensure that açaí is processed according to regulations.
At the Açaí Festival, specifically this Friday, starting at 3 PM, a large training session will be held with the participation of more than 300 workers.
“Those who couldn't register can arrive at the Hangar before the event, and starting at 2 PM we will be registering any processor who wants to be trained. Guidelines on proper handling will be provided by the Municipal Health Surveillance and the State Secretary of Public Health (Sespa),” advised Marivaldo.
Service: The Açaí Pará Festival will be open to the public starting at 2 PM this Friday (13) and on Saturday (14), until 10 PM. Those who wish to register for the training should go to the event reception at the entrance of the Hangar Convention Center. For any questions, contact can be made through the number (91) 3251-7979.
The complete program of the Açaí Pará Festival can be accessed through the website www.sedap.pa.gov.br and on Sedap's social media.
