With the demand for acai berries rising in the world of health foods, it is quite unsurprising that several retailers of acai have sprung up in the recent years. Conduct a search on the Internet for them and you will be surprised at the number of them. However, you must be definitely cautious when purchasing acai off the Internet. As in other online transactions, online purchases of acai are also not without their risks.

First and foremost, you must know that acai berries are indigenous only to the Amazonian rainforests, particularly of Brazil. They do not grow naturally in other parts of the world. Added to that, the acai berries (the natural form they grow in) are highly perishable. They will lost their nutritive value and begin decomposing within 24 hours of being harvested. For this reason, you will not find natural acai berries if you are outside this geographical region.

Most manufacturers of acai products will begin their processes on these berries within 24 hours of the harvest so that they can get the maximum nutritive benefits of them. The usually retailed forms of acai are as juices, pulp and freeze dried powders. All these products need to be processed within the timeframe of a day, because acai does not last beyond that period. However, once they are processed, due to the various preservatives added, their life significantly increases. With the proper processing techniques, acai berry products from a reputed manufacturer would last anywhere within six months to a year.

Now that you know the way in which acai products are made and marketed, it is important to note the following points:-

1. When buying the acai products, make sure that there is ample time for them to get expired. Remember that the product has spent some time on the shelf after being harvested and processed. You can ask the manufacturer how long it has been since its process and judge accordingly.

2. Acai products need preservatives to prolong their shelf life. However, you must make sure that these preservatives are natural. If synthetic preservatives are used, they will only be taking away from the health benefits of the acai berries.

3. There are many unscrupulous acai dealers. Some of them try to adulterate acai juice with other cheaper things. Since acai juice is usually costly, it makes a good profit for them even if they adulterate acai juice with red wine or apple juice, which are similar in taste but lesser in nutrition. Make sure that the seller you are buying the acai from is reputed so that there is no chance of an adulterated product coming your way.

There is one more point you must bear in mind. Before buying any acai berry product, make sure you research on it carefully, and especially read about the various health benefits it can provide you. Also spend some time researching its nutritional content. This will help you appreciate the product better and if you know what acai berries are all about, you can also become a more discerning buyer and user of them.