Solution that extends freshness, reduces waste, and transforms the global supply chain: BIG Interview with Luiz Beling, CEO, Apeel Sciences

Apeel Sciences is pioneering solutions to reduce food waste and enhance produce quality through its innovative plant-based coatings. The company’s technology creates an invisible, edible barrier on fruits and vegetables, slowing down spoilage by reducing water loss and oxidation. Approved in over 75 countries and applicable to 20-25 types of produce, Apeel offers a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging and helps retailers, growers, and consumers maintain product freshness longer. In this interview, CEO Luiz Beling explains how Apeel integrates seamlessly into packing houses, the importance of treating produce early, and how tools like RipeTrack provide real-time quality data throughout the supply chain. With new categories like citrus and edible-skinned cucumbers expanding their portfolio, Apeel is driving innovation at every stage of the global produce journey. 

Fructidor: How does the implementation process look for a new customer? If someone wants to start using Apeel, what do you do? 

Luiz Beling: We’ve simplified the process a lot compared to the past, and we’re now much easier to work with. Before, we had to manufacture the product inside the packing house. Now, thanks to improvements, we treat customers—both new and existing—just like any other post-harvest customer. We simply ship our finished product to their packing houses, and they can integrate it seamlessly. 

The process usually involves a site visit to understand whether any modifications are needed. Most of the time, no changes are required since most packing houses already have conveyor belts, spray systems, and processes for applying wax or fungicides. We just fit our equipment into their operations. It’s so much easier to do business now than it was even a year ago. 

Fructidor: Do you have special requirements for companies to start? What if they don’t have a conveyor or sprayer? 

Luiz Beling: The process is simple. We have our application system that uses a brush pad, which ensures the product is uniformly applied. As the fruit passes through, the solution gets distributed evenly. If the customer doesn’t have the necessary equipment, we can install our own and adjust it to fit their line. 

Fructidor: How do you communicate the benefits and safety of Apeel? 

Luiz Beling: It’s interesting. Fruits and vegetables naturally have their own coating, or peel—something that evolved to protect them and allow them to survive on land. We studied the elements of that natural coating and found a way to replicate it using ingredients derived from plants, fruits, and vegetables. 

This is how we created Apeel: it’s an additional plant-based coating made from the same ingredients already found in nature and your everyday foods, with a long history of safe consumption. It preserves quality and reduces waste. 

A big challenge in the supply chain is weight loss during transit. With Apeel, you maintain mass and quality throughout the journey, reducing the need for over-packing. Our team communicates these benefits through social media, events, and directly with stakeholders across the supply chain—from growers to retailers. Consumers also benefit because the product stays fresh longer, meaning less waste at home and more access to healthy fruits and vegetables. 

Fructidor: So, you target growers, importers, exporters, and packing houses. Do you have any certifications or plans to enter new markets? 

Luiz Beling: Yes, we’re approved in over 75 countries with 20-25 categories of fruits and vegetables. This effort has taken two years. With these approvals, we can scale into new markets. 

Retailers need a consistent supply year-round, so we’re mapping countries that can provide produce during different seasons. We work directly with growers and through retailers who want their suppliers to adopt Apeel. 

Fructidor: Are there new developments in your product range?  

Luiz Beling: Yes! We began with avocados and are now becoming well-known for citrus — limes, lemons, clementines, and oranges. Next, we plan to expand into stone fruits, mangoes, vine vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, and melons. 

In Switzerland, we recently got approval to treat edible-skinned cucumbers, eliminating the need for plastic wrapping. We hope to secure similar approval across the European Union. 

Fructidor: Is there anything else you’d like to share about Apeel’s future direction? 

Luiz Beling: We’re moving beyond coatings. We’re integrating digital technology with software, hardware, and data analytics to offer a complete solution for suppliers and retailers. 

We’ve developed RipeTrack, an AI-powered system that provides real-time visibility into the quality and ripeness of fruit as it moves through the supply chain. This helps retailers offer more ready-to-eat produce—something consumers really value. 

We’ve learned that consumers buy more when produce is ready to eat. With RipeTrack, we can measure dry matter, firmness, and other characteristics using tools like the durometer and spectrometer. 

Reduce food waste and enhance produce quality with Apeel's innovative plant-based coatings. Contact us today via support5@fructidor.com to explore sustainable solutions for your supply chain.