From the Blog
Apeel and New Pi Produce
After receiving a number of customer questions and concerns regarding the use of Apeel on produce, we have reached out to our suppliers to learn if Apeel is used on the produce we carry at the Co-op. In short, no, our produce is unlikely to have Apeel applied. But let's dig a little deeper.
What is Apeel?
Apeel is a plant-based coating that's applied to fruits and vegetables to increase shelf life by slowing down water loss and oxidation. Organipeel, a version of Apeel, was approved by the USDA for use on certified organic fruits and vegetables.
The concern around the use of Apeel and Organipeel is justified when the manufacturer of Apeel will not disclose what its ingredients are. Although it is not always the case, the organic industry should be based on transparency and trust.
New Pi's Stance on Apeel
Our goal at the Co-op is to not knowingly stock any organic or local produce that has been applied with Apeel or Organipeel. That being said, it may prove difficult to know whether an item has been treated with Apeel. We have reached out to a number of large-scale organic growers that we source produce from and all have assured us that they do not use Apeel.
At New Pioneer Co-op, the best way to avoid Apeel is to purchase certified organic or locally grown produce.
We have let our suppliers know that we will not support or purchase organic produce that has been treated with Apeel.
Apeel-Free Growers
Here are the growers that have told us they don't use Apeel:
- Rainier Fruit
- Stemilt Fruit
- Grimmway Farms
- Cal Organic Farms
- Josie's
- Earthbound Farm
- Del Cabo/Jacob's Farm
- Driscoll's
- Lakeside Organics
- Divine Flavor
- Bridges Produce
- Covilli
These growers account for most of the non-local, certified organic produce found at New Pioneer Co-op.
Likewise, none of the local farmers that we work with use Apeel on their fresh produce.
We hope that this can give you some assurance about the integrity of our produce. We will be monitoring this issue and continuing to contact growers in the future.
Barb Danielson Marketing Specialist
Barb is a passionate advocate for local food economies, spending much of her free time in the growing season out in her own garden. She is a professional photographer and artist, now using her varied skills on the marketing team here at the Co-op.