Acai Steps Onto the U.S. Stage

If you had asked me about acai 10 years ago, I would have shrugged my shoulders and replied, "What?" In 2005, I tasted acai berries for the first time -- at a juice bar in Brazil.

I enjoyed drinking acai (it's best in combination with other fruits) and wondered why it was virtually unknown in the U.S. Five years later, acai is sold as part of beverages and other food products in many areas of our country, and it has created quite a buzz.

This slide show at the N.Y. Times' website shows how acai berries are grown, how they are picked and how they are processed into food products.