Neal Carter
President Neal Carter picking an apple.
The controversial Arctic Apple has been approved for production in Canada and the United States, despite opposition from grower groups like the BC Fruit Growers Association. The US deregulated Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden apples in early March, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency followed suit on March 20.
Arctic apple founder Neal Carter is confident the new fruit option will increase apple consumption, not everyone is embracing the blend of orchards and science.
“A recent study from Cornell University found that schoolchildren eat around 70% more apples, and waste far less, when apples are served to them as slices rather than as whole fruit,” Carter said. “Browning is a big impediment to fresh cut apples, though, as anti-browning treatments are costly and can impart an off-taste. Arctic apples can avoid these issues, giving consumers a higher quality eating experience.”
Carter got on the non-browning apple bandwagon in the mid-1990s when he learned about research into non-browning potatoes. The apple grower saw an opportunity for an increase in fresh cut apple consumption through enhanced visual appeal that could help combat declining North American apple consumption.
Trialed in Washington and New York states, OSF planted test orchards in 2003 and 2005 to give more than a decade worth of orchard experience and in-house fruit trials.
“They are likely the most tested apple in existence and are proven to have zero novel proteins; the only difference between them and their conventional counterparts is the non-browning benefit,” Carter noted. “Our families have already eaten more Arctic apples than anyone, and will continue to do so. We certainly would not be introducing a product into the market that we are not 100% confident in ourselves.”
While B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association president, Fred Steele, agrees with the science behind the Arctic apple, he has concerns about how the new apple could negatively affect Canadian orchardists. The thought is that an Okanagan-created GMO apple could have a ripple effect throwing the growth, production and genetic-origins of all Okanagan apples into question in the minds of consumers.
“We’re not quarrelling with the science,” Steele said. “We’re quarrelling with the possible economic impact on farmers. The vast majority of our members indicated they won’t grow it and we are concerned where it will leave organic growers.”
With apple segregation common in the industry, Carter believes there will be no negative impact, as the Arctic apple will simply provide one more option to consumers looking for apples.
The science behind the Arctic apple is complex, but can be broken down to basics. When conventional apples receive trauma through being cut, bitten into or dropped, the apple cells are fractured, thus triggering a chemical reaction that results in a brown-toned melanin. Through science-based gene silencing Arctic apples lack the tools to cause browning. The process can be replicated on any variety of the fruit.
The convenience factor of a fresh-cut, non-browning apple is what Carter thinks will draw the public to the Arctic apple.
“The simple convenience of ‘baby’ carrots doubled carrot consumption when they were introduced, and fresh-cut products like fresh apple slices could potentially take off in a similar manner thanks to the non-browning benefit,” he said.
Carter noted that Canadian approval for the fruit was applied for in 2011 and apples will be sold in small test-market quantities in 2016.
A Langley, B.C. based market, Ralph’s Market, is unlikely to carry the fruit regardless of the non-browning benefit, according to the store’s manager, Murray Redekop.
“I think that apple will particularly appeal to people who pack apples for salads or… like in a salad bar,” Redekop noted. “I think most of our customers buy [apples] just to eat them and aren’t so concerned about the brownness. It’s [the Arctic apple] more just for processing.”
Acceptance of the product will come down to public education and acceptance noted Steele.
“It depends on whether the public accepts it,” Steele said. “We’ll see where it takes us… it will be a while to see if consumers accept it.”
According to Steele a 2012 survey saw 68% of consumers saying they wouldn’t accept the GMO apple. Redekop supported this statement.
“Not many, but some of our customers specifically mentioned the Arctic apple and concerns,” he noted.
The research Carter has done is counter to the 2012 data.
“Our significant consumer research has demonstrated with remarkable consistency that the vast majority of apple eaters are interested in Arctic apples, especially when they learn more about them or get to experience the fruit firsthand,” Carter said. “We are confident non-browning apples can get apples into more places and boost consumption, while also helping reduce food waste, and offering additional market opportunity for the apple industry.”
Despite the debate over the Arctic apple’s benefit to the marketplace, there is obvious interest given the late February announcement of acquisition of OSF by Intrexon Corp., a leader in synthetic biology for $41 million. Carter will continue with OSF after the purchase completes.
