Kroger, America's largest grocery retailer, and Apeel Sciences have announced that Apeel's longer-lasting avocados will be available in more than 1,100 Kroger stores in the U.S. Kroger will also introduce two new produce categories, Apeel asparagus and Apeel limes, through a pilot in its Cincinnati market this fall.
"Kroger is excited to offer more customers Apeel avocados and introduce longer-lasting limes and asparagus, marking another milestone on our journey to achieving our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste vision," said Frank Romero, Kroger's vice president of produce. "Apeel's innovative food-based solution has proven to extend the life of perishable produce, reducing food waste in transport, in our retail stores and in our customers' homes."
The Kroger expansion follows a pilot program with Apeel avocados launched one year ago in 109 Midwest stores that significantly reduced category food waste. Apeel avocados, asparagus and limes maintain their just-harvested quality longer than produce without Apeel and are less reliant on refrigeration, reducing food waste and extending customers' access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Kroger and Apeel's retail partnership focuses on tackling the country's increasingly urgent food-waste paradox. Today, 40 percent of the food produced is thrown away, yet 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger. Redirecting even one-third of this food would help feed everyone in need. Additionally, food waste contributes roughly eight percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
