Edible coatings producer Apeel has partnered with Robinson Fresh – a division of C.H. Robinson, a global distributor of fresh products – to develop  limes that have a longer shelf life with Apeel’s innovation, Apple Protection.

From June, European retailers will have access to Persian limes from the Robinson Fresh facility in Mexico, which stay green, fresh and juicy for up to 14 days longer than untreated fruit.

“Research shows that European consumers are opting for the greener and firmer limes in the store,” remarks Erich Klawuhn, senior vice president of product at Apeel.

“Retailers who offer limes that have a longer shelf life give their customers what they are looking for. They can display their beautiful limes with confidence and they end up with less waste.”

This shelf life extension notably helps to prevent wastage and avoid environmental impacts.

The vegetable coating that Apeel uses extends product shelf life by keeping moisture in and oxygen out.Regulating moisture and oxygen
The vegetable coating that Apeel uses extends product shelf life by keeping moisture in and oxygen out. This technique neutralizes the main causes of spoilage and is suitable for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

At the same time, they help combat waste in the supply chain. The protection developed by Apeel helps keep the limes nice, firm and less shriveled for long transit times.

This also benefits end consumers. Recent tests by the company show that by the time the limes reach the consumer’s kitchen, there are 33% more bright green and 91% less shriveled limes than other lime producers using the traditional wax coating.

“We are delighted to continue our steadfast commitment to reduce waste and build a more efficient food ecosystem, while offering retailers a variety of ways to meet their own quality and sustainability needs,” comments Robinson Fresh CEO Michael Castagnetto.

“Thanks to the partnership with Apeel, we are increasing our capacity and are able to tap into new markets and trade routes worldwide, reaching even more retailers and consumers with the benefits of longer-lasting, more sustainable products.”

Growth trajectory for edible packaging
Since 2018, Apeel has prevented over two million grocery store avocados from going to waste, saving enough water to fill 427 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In 2020, the company announced an avocado trial with Switzerlands largest supermarket chain, Migros.

By 2021, Robinson Fresh and Apeel will have delivered an estimated 1.5 million limes to consumers through retail rather than landfill. This saved 110 metric tons of greenhouse gas and more than 72 million liters of water, the partnership reports.

Last month, UK supermarket Tesco trailed Apeel’s plant-based food protection solution across approximately 80 locations. The pilot was implemented in stocks of Apeel-coated Jaffa Oranges, Jaffa Sweet Easy Peelers and Lemon Packs.

Fresh produce waste is a hot topic right now, after a WRAP report suggested plastic packaging can actually increase fresh produce spoilage in some cases, while critics questioned the report’s scope. 

Earlier this year, France imposed a plastic packaging ban on 30 different fruits and vegetables in a move that divided opinion. While Zero Waste France argued that the ban’s exemptions “greatly lessen the law’s ambition,” others pointed to potential food waste increases as a result.