Abstract: An apparatus for removing the skins from fruit (including vegetables) where the fruit has an elongated shape being substantially cylindrical or egg shaped, and which are particularly suitable for removing the skins from Chinese gooseberries (Actinidia Chinensis). The apparatus comprises a heated lye bath for loosening the fruit skin, washing means for removing the loosened skin and conveying means for separately conveying each fruit through the lye bath and the washing means. The conveying means comprises an endless drive loop having projecting dividers adapted to separate and propel each fruit in use. The apparatus includes guide means in the lye bath and through the the washing means defining a path followed by the fruit. The dividers tend to roll the fruit along said path when the fruits contact the guide means.