packer
The Arctic Fuji, approved for the U.S. market in fall 2016, has been approved by Canadian federal agencies. ( Photo courtesy Okanagan Specialty Fruit )

Following the lead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Canadian federal agencies have approved the marketing of the non-browning Arctic Fuji.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada ruled the genetically engineered variety grown and marketed by Summerland, British Columbia-based Okanagan Specialty Fruit Inc. do not “pose a greater risk to human health than apples currently available” in Canada. Health Canada reported the Arctic Fuji does not affect allergies, and has the same nutritional values as other apples, according to a news release from Okanagan Specialty Fruit.

“There has been very strong interest from retailers as we launched our first product — fresh, preservative-free Arctic Golden slices — and we look forward to introducing additional Arctic non-browning varieties into Canada and U.S. markets soon,” Neal Carter, president of Okanagan, said in the release.

The company shipped the golden delicious slices to about 400 retail locations in the Midwest last fall; the chains carrying the product have not been identified.

The USDA approved the sale of Arctic Fujis in September 2016.

The company also grows a non-browning granny smith variety.

GMO
Apples
Canada
 
PREV
NEXT

Related on The Packer

Comments
Submitted by Andrea Hessedenz on Sun, 02/04/2018 - 13:26

We don't want this crap!!!!

Submitted by Robert Wager on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 09:05

Then don't buy it. Many people do want non-browning apples (and more )

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/04/2018 - 23:46

Totally unnecessary, destructive and unwanted.

Submitted by Robert Wager on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 09:07

How is helping to reduce apple waste "unnecessary"

Submitted by John Anderson, PhD on Mon, 02/05/2018 - 11:02

Thankfully science and not superstition has prevailed.

Submitted by Grumpy Santa on Wed, 02/07/2018 - 12:16

Good on Canada. The only people that "don't want this" are completely ignorant as to what this is about. In a nutshell, four genes already in the apple had their expression turned down to limit the production of a chemical that results in browning. That's it. The only thing people should be afraid of is their own ignorance and lack of desire to correct the problem.