Really there’s only one downside to having a fridge full of fresh fruit and veggies—how quickly it all goes bad. The amount of avocados that have ended up in my garbage is a true shame. One company knows the struggle, though, and has found a way to solve the problem, not only saving you money by extending the life of your produce, but also eliminating food waste in the process.
If you haven’t yet heard of Apeel Sciences, the name is about to be everywhere. The California-based startup is making waves for inventing an edible coating made entirely of plant-based materials—lipids and glycerolipids—that are already found in the peels, seeds, and pulp of fruits and veggies. Essentially, that thin extra “peel” that Apeel coats the surfaces of fruit and veggies with “slows down water loss and oxidation—the factors that cause spoilage,” reads the company’s website. This added protection (which is colorless, odorless, and tasteless) keeps produce ripe for twice—or even three times—as long.
Obviously, that’s kind of a big deal—especially considering it’s estimated that nearly 31 million tons of food waste ended up in landfills in 2017. And many people are starting to see the appeal of Apeel Sciences and its potential to do good. The company, which was originally founded in 2012 with a grant from Bill Gates, raised $250 million in its latest fundraising drive alone, which included personal investments from Oprah Winfrey and Katy Perry, reports the The Guardian.
With these investments, the company is already well on its way to making changes in the food industry. In 2020, it’s estimated that Apeel will save millions of fruit and veggies from going bad. You might have even gotten to experience the new tech without even realizing it. Some Costco locations began carrying the long-lasting avocados in 2018, and Kroger’s avocados have the coating as well. While avocados were the starting point, Axios says the coating will soon be applied to apples, limes, asparagus, and cucumbers as well.
Right now, being able to keep my avocados ripe for weeks (without freezing them!) seems like a dream. But thanks to this technology, biting into a perfect piece of avo toast on the daily is about to become a reality for everyone.
Speaking of avocados, these are all the benefits you should know about:
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