Apeel, the startup that makes a powder coating to extend the shelf life of produce, announced today that its specially treated avocados are now available to shoppers in Denmark and Germany.
Apeel is looking to fight the global food waste problem by creating an edible powder coating that is mixed with water and applied to produce. As we’ve covered before:
To create that barrier for produce, Apeel basically takes parts of plants left behind on farms (e.g., tomato rinds, seeds and pulps) and extracts particular lipids from them. Those lipids are then combined in specific ratios, which vary depending on the produce, to create the ideal protective barrier for each fruit and vegetable.
Apeel avocados are coming to Europe through a partnership with Nature’s Pride, a Belgium-based supplier of produce. The partnership was actually announced back in February. According to today’s press announcement, the European Commission has now authorized the use of the food-based ingredients in its edible coating.
Apeel claims that it has reduced food waste at the retail level by more than 50 percent. In September, the company’s avocados started being sold at 1,100 Kroger locations across the U.S.
As noted, Apeel is part of a wave of organizations looking to attack the food waste problem in this country and abroad. StixFresh uses a sticker to double the shelf life of produce. Varcode uses blockchain temperature sensors and the cloud to monitor the cold chain. And researchers at Washington State University developed and just released the Cosmic Crisp apple, which can last in storage for up to a year.
For those living in Europe who want to rush out to buy an Apeel avocado (or, you know, take your time, it’ll last), they can be found at Edeka and Netto stores in Germany, and Salling Group stores Føtex and Bilka in Denmark.
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