Okanagan GM apple doesn't go brown when sliced

The Daily Courier Friday, 18 May 2012 02:00 SAM REDDING
The man behind a proposed genetically modified apple thinks it would benefit every Okanagan orchardist. "From my view, it's a very exciting new product and as a company, we're very excited to bring the Arctic Apple here," said Neal Carter of Okanagan Specialty Fruits. Carter admitted that while there are apples already out there that are low browning, the Arctic Apple would be non browning and better than any naturally selected apple. "The other apples, you wait five or six hours and they will still go brown. Our non-browning apple will only have secondary browning, meaning decay, but if you rinse it, I could see the Arctic lasting anywhere from 15 to 18 days." While many consumers may not think they are ready for genetically modified food, Carter claims a lot of the produce people buy are already genetically modified, stating that one-third of zucchini is genetically modified. Carter says his company's market research shows "70 to 80 per cent of customers" would be interested in buying a non-browning apple. "We've done this in a responsible manner and I think people will recognize that and then be willing to give it a try. As a small company, we're working very hard to be transparent and to engage and educate the public. The non browning trait benefits everyone, the packers, the consumers, the growers," said Carter. "We want to be different, we want the consumers to decide." Some colleagues in the fruit business are worried about the loss of their organic status that could happen if there were ever any cross-pollination. But Carter doesn't believe that would be a problem. "Apples are a bee pollinated crop, not wind, and the bees don't move very far, not with the weight of the pollen. In an orchard, we put a hive every acre or so because we know they're not moving too much, so with good stewardship and bee management it shouldn't be a problem. It's a very low-risk product." Other orchardists are worried the Okanagan's reputation for fresh, natural safe fruit could be at risk if genetically modified apples are allowed. Carter wants to manage the process in small steps, starting with company run field trials and then moving on to grower-managed test blocks. The approval process for the Arctic Apple can be found at inspection.gc.ca/plants/plants-with-novel-traits/notices-of-submission. Comments can be submitted there as well.