Genetically Engineered, Non-Browning Apple Faces Opposition

By Growing Produce Staff|March 22, 2011

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple), in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack, urged him to deny a petition requesting nonregulated status for two genetically modified varieties of apples. The petition was submitted last summer by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Inc. of Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, and approval of the petition would allow planting of these varieties in the U.S.

In the letter, USApple president and CEO Nancy Foster stated:

“It is our understanding that the two varieties of genetically modified apples pending before your department are intended to be marketed as “non-browning” apples. In the opinion of USApple, this attribute is insufficient to warrant introduction into and possible disruption of the consumer marketplace. However, USApple does not believe these apples represent a human health concern.

“The apple industry strongly supports apple rootstock breeding, and other genetics and genomics research. USApple believes application of biotechnology may yield valuable attributes in the future.

“The genetically modified apples in the petition offer questionable commercial benefit yet raise serious marketing questions for virtually all segments of our industry. Such concerns include consumer desire for choice, possible demand for labeling, potential consumer rejection of future genetically modified produce, and possible market disruption here and in our export markets. Exports are extremely valuable for our industry. Over 25% of the U.S. fresh apple volume is sold overseas each year. In 2009, exports accounted for 35% of the value of our $2.2 billion farm-gate production total. Consequently, more than $1 out of every $3 in apple revenue is derived from exports.”