Arctic Fuji
On the heels of the Arctic™ Golden and Arctic™ Granny apples, the Arctic™ Fuji apple from Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) was deregulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) in the early fall of 2016. The other two varieties of specialty apples made their way south in February of 2015, although the petition for the genetically engineered (GE) fruit began in 2012.
There are two schools of thought around the new apples which are expected to be available to consumers in North American in early 2017. Some people want the fruit, which has been altered through science-based gene silencing. Arctic™ apples do not brown when cut, dropped or bitten. OSF also claims the process does not alter the taste, as they feel the visual appeal of the apples will increase consumption of fruit - it has been proven in studies that children will eat apple slices far more readily than a whole apple. The other group, which doesn’t want the apples, is further divided into two groups: those who oppose genetic modification to food and those who are concerned about the potential impact to Okanagan growers due to a possible perception that all apples out of the region are genetically modified.
OSF has received positive feedback on the apples so far, yet whether consumers choose to purchase them will be the deciding factor of success when they are available next year. Growers south of the border have planted orchards with Arctic™ varieties.
The first commercial harvest occurred in early October 2016 with the Arctic™ Golden. It will be processed into sliced apples and sold in test markets in 2017 according to statements from Intrexon Corporation. OSF is based in Summerland, but is a wholly owned subsidiary of Virginia-based Intrexon Corporation, a company involved in creating biologically-based products.