Within a month of completing the first commercial campaign for its non-browning Arctic Golden apple, Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) now has approval to sell the similarly altered Arctic Fuji on the Canadian market.

The British Columbia-based company, owned by NYSE-listed Intrexon, created the Arctic range of apples with a unique genetically modified trait that prevents enzymatic browning even when apples are bitten, sliced, or bruised. 

Yesterday the group announced Arctic Fuji - its third non-browning apple after Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny - had been approved Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada (HC). 

The CFIA and HC concluded the variety "did not pose a greater risk to human health than apples currently available on the Canadian market".

In addition, Health Canada concluded the fruit would have no impact on allergies and that there would be no diference in the nutritional value of the Arctic Fuji compared to "other traditional apple varieties available for consumption".

OSF expects commercial plantings of Arctic Fuji trees to take place this spring. 

"Canadian approval of the nonbrowning Arctic® Fuji is great news for our company and even more exciting for families looking to add another favorite apple variety to their healthy diets and lifestyles," OSF president Neal Carter explained in a release.

"There has been very strong interest from retailers as we launched our first product – fresh, preservative free Arctic® Golden slices – and we look forward to introducing additional Arctic® nonbrowning varieties into Canada and U.S. markets soon."

The company highlighted the non-browning advantage benefited every part of the supply chain by reducing food waste and boosting product appeal.

"It’s an exciting time at OSF. For a very long time, apple lovers have been looking forward to enjoying nonbrowning Arctic® apples as a convenient and healthy snack option," Carter said.

"With this past fall’s U.S. launch we were finally able to deliver just that.

"This latest announcement allows us to continue looking ahead toward providing new nonbrowning varieties and additional value-added fruits and vegetables. Arctic® apples are just the beginning for OSF."

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