David Nelley, former vice president of categories and global exports at the Oppenheimer Group, has joined Apeel Sciences as vice president of domestic buyer relations. The first 30 years of Nelley’s career were dedicated to moving premium produce around the world, looking for ways to improve packouts, create efficiencies, and make the process more sustainable by reducing waste. Now he’ll drive global growth at Apeel, establish new relationships with buyers, and also save produce from landfills and help the planet.

“David brings a deep perspective of a global produce industry on both the buy and supply side of the business that strengthens our organization as we move Apeel into the future and around the world,” said Gordon Robertson, chief revenue officer at Apeel Sciences.

During his tenure at Oppy, Nelley played a crucial role in developing the premium apple segment in North America. Apples such as Braeburn, Pacific Rose, Jazz and Envy became household names under his leadership and contributions. He also built relationships and partnerships with growers in Costa Rica, Chile, New Zealand and other growing markets around the world.

Nelley brings a global perspective to Apeel, having previously lived in Singapore, Seattle and New Zealand. He was actually raised on a farm in New Zealand and began his professional career in produce at the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in international management and marketing from Waikato University in Hamilton, New Zealand, and has completed food marketing and agribusiness courses at Portland State and Harvard universities.

Apeel Sciences was founded in Santa Barbara, CA, in 2012 with a mission to fight global food waste by using nature’s own strategy for preservation. The company produces plant-derived coatings that keep moisture inside produce and oxygen out, dramatically extending shelf life.

Apeel’s plant-derived food waste prevention technology on average doubles the edible shelf life of produce by providing a little extra peel that slows the rate of water loss and oxidation — the primary causes of spoilage. Successful pilots with Apeel-treated avocados at U.S. retailers have resulted in a 50 percent or more reduction in avocado food waste on average, and some partners have experienced as much as a 65 percentage-point margin increase and a 10 percent increase in sales in the avocado category due to Apeel, despite inflation or other fluctuations.

“Apeel is a greater calling for anyone who’s involved in agriculture,” said Nelley. “Not only are we in this for the business opportunity, but everyone throughout the supply chain is a partner in meeting the global challenge of feeding the future sustainably. To me, Apeel is a reason to be positive about the future of produce.”