Get Amped: Costco Is Rolling Out Avocados With Double The Shelf Life

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Think about the number of avocados you’ve wasted because they went from rock hard to brown mush in a matter of days. It’s a giant avo-bummer. But according to Bloomberg, a startup backed by Bill Gates has come up with a solution for avocado waste.

The Gates-backed company called Apeel Sciences is using food waste and other plant materials to create a “second skin” on avocados, called Apeel, that will double its shelf life. These superpowered avocados will debut in around 100 grocery stores in the Midwest and more than 30 Costco locations.

The avocados are washed with a mixture of recycled plant materials and water, creating this second coating. Since this second skin — which is colorless, odorless and tasteless — is made with plant-derived materials, it’s edible and safe to eat. (Although you don’t eat the avocado skin, so you’re not directly ingesting the coating.) According to the company’s site, this second coating helps to keep moisture inside of the avocado, while keeping oxygen out.

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By controlling the oxygen and moisture factors, these avocados will stay fresh for twice as long with a higher density of nutrients and a more vibrant color. The creamy green fruit will reach its peak ripeness and the extra protective layer will let you reap the benefits even after it’s been sitting on the grocery store shelf.

Avocados aren’t the only fruits that will benefit from Apeel. Since the materials needed to form this second skin exist in all fruits and vegetables, there’s a ton of room for experimentation. Sustainable avocados could be the first fruit of the future.

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