Arctic apple approved

by Wayne Moore CASTANET - Mar 20, 2015 / 2:25 pm

The Summerland produced Arctic apple is safe for consumption in Canada. That's the conclusion of both Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which on Friday approved the apple for commercial sale in Canada following review of the product. The announcement comes just five weeks after the Arctic apple was approved for sale in the United States. In a letter sent to Okanagan Specialty Fruit, the producer of the apple, CFIA concluded Arctic apples "are as safe and nutritious as traditional apple varieties." The official decision document will become publicly available on its website at a future date. Health Canada concluded the apple "is safe for consumption, still has all its nutritional value and therefore does not differ from other apples available on the market." Friday's announcement concludes more than three years of review since Okanagan Specialty Fruits first initiated the government deregulation process in Canada. "Arctic apples' non-browning trait creates a wide array of benefits that offer value to the entire supply chain, especially consumers," said company president Neal Carter. "Arctic apples have been planted for 12 years and have completed review processes with the USDA, FDA, CFIA and Health Canada." The apple does not brown when bitten, sliced or bruised, which helps reduce food waste and improves its fresh-cut suitability, according to Carter. He expects the Arctic apple will be made available in small, test-market quantities in late 2016. Increasing amounts of fruit will become available in each successive year. Since being granted approval in the U.S., Okanagan Specialty Fruits was sold to Intrexon Corp. for $41 million.