USDA Grants Approval of Nonbrowning Arctic Apple

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Healthy Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced its approval for the first two apple varieties genetically engineered to resist browning. The nonbrowning apple varieties, Arctic® Golden and Arctic® Granny apples, were developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF), a small, grower-led company based in Canada.

Neal Carter, president and founder of OSF, said this announcement is a monumental occasion for his team. "The commercial approval of Arctic apples, our company's flagship product, is the biggest milestone yet for us, and we can't wait until they're available for consumers."

Carter emphasizes that the nonbrowning Arctic apples went through rigorous review, were grown in field trials for more than a decade, and are likely the most tested apples on the planet. The USDA's publicly available risk assessment documents concluded that Arctic apples are just as safe and healthful as any other apple, and they are unlikely to pose a plant pest risk, and deregulation is not likely to have a significant impact on the human environment.

The APHIS' final environmental assessment (EA) and plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) will be published in the Federal Register soon.

For more about Arctic apples, visit their website. The risk assessment documents and announcements are available on the USDA website. The news release can be read at the OSF website.