February 17, 2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on February 13 the approval of the first genetically modified apple for sale in the U.S. The Arctic apple will have two varieties, the Arctic Granny, and the Arctic Golden – new varieties of the Granny Smith and the Golden Delicious.
The Arctic, created by the Canadian company, Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., resists browning when cut by turning off an enzyme responsible for the browning process, making it one of only a few genetically modified crops designed to appeal directly to food service and consumers, rather than to appeal to farmers through resistance to herbicides or pesticides.
Having secured USDA approval, Okanagan states it will likely have 70,000 Arctic trees planted in 2016 with fruit reaching the consumer market as early as 2017, however production will not reach full capacity for a number of years.
Some American farmers are concerned that consumers will turn away from apples entirely because of not being able to distinguish between the genetically modified Arctic and conventional varieties, adding to the genetically modified labeling debate, but Okananagan disclosed that it will affix a snowflake logo to its Artic varieties for easier identifcation.
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