Arctic apple is the trademark for a group of patented apples that contain a nonbrowning trait introduced through biotechnology. They were developed through a process of genetic engineering by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.
Arctic apples are genetically engineered (GE) to prevent browning. This means that the genetic material that dictates how the apple tree grows and develops was altered using biotechnology tools.
How do Arctic® Apples taste? In a word: delicious! Our Arctic® Golden slices are sweet and crunchy, while our Arctic® Granny variety is tart and crisp. Customers say that they are the best-tasting sliced apples they've had in years.
Food safety- The genetic modification makes it easier to tell when an apple has spoiled. Arctic apples resist enzymatic browning but not the discoloration from rotting. Processing Aids- Higher quality products and no need for costly anti-browning treatments.
Arctic® Apples are genetically-engineered (they are GMO).
Arctic® Apples were created with gene silencing using Okanagan Specialty Fruits' patented biotechnology process to regulate the expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes. “When an apple is cut (or bruised), oxygen is introduced into the injured plant tissue.
In a response to letters FOE sent to their companies, McDonald's and Gerber (through their parent company, Nestle) replied by explaining they don't use Arctic® apples and have no current plans to use them in the future.
A new type of apple is available to shoppers this fall, giving consumers a chance to experience genetic engineering first hand. Arctic Apple is a trade name for a type of fruit that does not turn brown when exposed to air.
It is the first genetically engineered apple to be approved for commercial sale. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Government of Canada in 2017, determined that Arctic apples are as safe and nutritious as conventional apples.
As a result, Arctic® apples have too little PPO to experience superficial browning while still being just as healthful as their conventional counterparts. However, Arctic® apples will still turn brown if they have a fungal or bacterial infection resulting in rotting fruit.
1. Fuji apple. Fuji Apples are incredibly sweet and are quite often the sweetest apple widely available in grocery stores. Fuji apples have an aromatic floral sweetness that almost tastes like honey.
Some of the best-tasting apple varieties are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, Ambrosia, and Cox's Orange Pippin. These varieties are most flavorful when picked at peak ripeness and eaten within a few months of harvest. They're generally selected for superior texture, juiciness, aroma, and sugar/acid content.
The fruit, produced by Okanagan Specialty Fruits and sold under the brand name Arctic Apples, were approved by the USDA in 2015 with a first harvest collected last fall. The apples have been modified to brown less quickly than ordinary fruit, and will be sold pre-sliced in “grab-and-go” pouches.
The Government of Canada has determined that the genetically modified "Arctic apple" is as safe for humans, livestock and the environment as conventional apples.
The first apple was the apple that made Isaac Newton discover gravity. The second apple was the Apple iPhone which was designed by Steve Jobs. The third apple was the apple or the fruit mentioned in Bible Genesis Chapter 3 or the so-called “Eve's apple”.
Arctic® apples is the flagship product of Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved five varieties of Arctic® apples for commercial production: Arctic® Golden, Arctic® Granny, Arctic® Fuji, Arctic® Gala and, Arctic® Honey. Arctic brand apples are a product of biotechnology.
Which varieties are considered tart apples? The apple with the tartest flavor on the Apple Sweetness Scale is the Granny Smith apple. You can spot them by looking for their bright green skin! Other tart apples include: Pink Lady®, Braeburn, McIntosh, Jonathan, Empire, and Cortland apples.
While WA's Pink Lady apples and the more recent Bravo apples are known around the world for their great taste, it turns out they're also some of the best for our health.
Apples that don't brown aren't only real, they've actually been available in American grocery stores since 2010. Called Opal apples, these non-browning apples are a hybrid between a Golden Delicious and the lesser-known Topaz apple.
McIntosh. Even softer than Golden Delicious, McIntosh apples are creamy (and a bit mealy) on the inside, which makes them a great option for being cooked down into applesauce or soup.
The Black Diamond Apple (Chinese: gāla guǒ; 嘎啦果) is a rare variety from the family of Huaniu apples that is cultivated in the Tibetan region of Nyingchi. Despite what the name suggests, the apple rather is a purple hue, with white pulp on the inside.
The Christkindel Apple, also known as Christmas Apples, Santa Klaus or Saint Nicolas' apple, is a traditional variety from the Alsace region. The peel is a dark red color, but there is another variety that is even darker, almost black, known as “Christkindel de Gambsheim” or “Gambsheimer” or simply “Gambsler”.
Once the technology involved was licensed by OSF trials to produce the Arctic® apple began in 2003(“About OSF – OK Specialty Fruits,” n.d.).