Genetically modified apple approved for sale in Canada

Saturday, March 21, 2015, 3:38 PM - Debating whether or not to eat that slightly-brown apple might be a thing of the past.

The genetically modified Arctic apple developed in B.C. has been approved for sale in Canada.

The fruit was developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits and has a unique characteristic: it's a non-browning apple.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture cleared the apple for sale in the States back in February 2015 and now Canadians will be able to join in on trying the new fruit.

"It was determined that the changes made to the apple did not pose a greater risk to human helath than apples currently available on the Canadian market," Health Canada said on their website. According to the Canadian organization the apple was subjected to several tests.

"We know it's been a long wait, but with this final step out of the way, we can't wait for you to enjoy Arctic apples for yourself very soon," Okanagan Specialty Fruits president Neal Carter wrote in his blog. "Over the next couple years, we will be working hard with our grower partners to get as many Arctic trees in the ground as we can."

Two varieties will hit the markets initially: Arctic granny and the Arctic golden.

A poll commissioned by the B.C. Fruit Growers' Association earlier this year found that the fruit does not have as much support as they would like. Nearly 70 per cent of people polled did not want the arctic apple to receive approval.

The Arctic apple will be in American stores by late 2016.

Source: Health Canada | Arctic Apples | BCFGA

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