How Many People Work at Apeel? Headcount and Employee Trends

Apeel, the biotechnology company known for its plant-based edible coatings that extend produce shelf life, maintains a workforce of roughly 260 employees. Recent staffing data shows 12 new hires offset by 27 departures, resulting in a modest contraction in overall headcount. The figures illustrate a maturing organization that is balancing research, commercial operations, and international expansion within the highly regulated food and agriculture sector.

Engineering is Apeel’s largest department with 96 specialists, underscoring the scientific and technical focus required to develop its proprietary protection technology. Operations follows with 34 employees who manage manufacturing and supply-chain activities, while Finance & Administration supports the business with 29 team members. Marketing & Product and Business Management are evenly staffed at 26 employees each, reflecting efforts to position the brand and guide strategic growth. Sales & Support (21), Information Technology (11), Human Resources (8), Risk/Safety/Compliance (2), and a small "Other" category (8) round out the organizational chart, illustrating a balanced mix of technical, commercial, and governance functions.

Apeel’s headquarters in Santa Barbara, California houses the largest on-site team at 64 employees. Beyond its U.S. base, the company shows a strong European footprint: Valencia and Seville, Spain collectively employ 19 staff, complemented by a smaller hub in Alicante. Additional clusters operate in San Diego and Ventura, California, as well as Uruapan, Mexico and Pharr, Texas, supporting grower and customer relationships close to key agricultural regions. A sizable "Other" category of 154 employees suggests a dispersed remote workforce that enables Apeel to serve global supplier and retailer networks efficiently.