Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the company behind the non-browning Arctic Apple sets to commercial launch with US retailers this fall, following the completion of successful market testing.
Arctic Golden apples, whose polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes have been silenced through genetic modification was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015.
When the cell of a typical apple is[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] ruptured by biting, slicing or bruising – PPO found in one part of the cell mixes with polyphenolics found in another part of the cell. PPO is a plant enzyme. Polyphenolics are one of the many types of chemical substrates that serve various purposes, including supplying its aroma and flavor.) When PPO and polyphenolics mix, brown-toned melanin is left behind.
Arctic apples produce practically no PPO so that enzymatic browning reaction never occurs.
While volumes are still limited, company founder Neal Carter said there would be “exponential” growth in the coming years as more budwood became available and more nurseries came on board.
“We need fruit, because the market’s ready to take it,” he told Fresh Fruit Portal.
According to the news report, Carter said he couldn’t have asked for more positive consumer feedback.
An important aspect of the trials – which involved 10-ounce Arctic slices in a grab-and-go bags – had been confirming the marketing strategy, packaging and production positioning.
The bag’s bright, colorful and eye-catching, and has Arctic Apple slices with absolutely no treatment whatsoever. What we found is that most consumers were interested in purchasing Arctic Apples, and in a taste test comparison it was the preferred product,” he said.
“In the lab we’ve also added people as we advance pipeline ideas.
“It’s really very cool to see that we’re doing all of it – we’re focusing on building more business through new products and new traits as well as putting a team in place to execute on the commercialisation and other plans we have,” he said.
“Moving the commercial business forward is a priority and advancing the science is a priority – bringing the Arctic Apple to new varieties.
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