The machine removes skins from a pomegranate or other fruit or vegetable. A pair of belts are spaced apart by a gap. The belts travel in a common direction adjacent the gap and are closer together on at least portions thereof than a width of the pomegranate. Pomegranates passed through the gap are thus compressed between the two belts. One of the belts travels faster than the other belt so that both compression and a shearing force act upon the skin of the pomegranate. The skin is torn and opened to expose arils within a core of the pomegranate. An under belt preferably carries pomegranates through the gap with slots in the under belt to allow arils and juice to fall down through an opening in a deck upon which the compression belts are mounted. A tray collects the arils and juice falling through the deck below the gap.