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OKANAGAN SPECIALTY FRUITS
Arctic® ApplesWhy create a nonbrowning apple?
Who is Okanagan Specialty Fruits?
Small, grower-led BC companyFounded in 1996 by apple and cherry growers Neal and Louisa CarterMany shareholders are from the tree fruit industryOkanagan-based company with just seven employees
What is an Arctic® apple?
The first nonbrowning appleOSF’s flagship projectSlices, bruises and juice will not turn brown
What is an Arctic® apple?
Just like any apple tree
Arctic apple trees behave in the orchard just as conventional trees do – until the fruit is bruised, bitten or cut...
Why develop nonbrowning apples?
Increase apple consumption
Why develop nonbrowning apples?
To create a consumption trigger
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U.S. Per Capita Consumption (lbs)
Fresh-cut Carrots
Source: USDA Economic Research Service
How’d we do that?
Relatively simple science
In science terms, we have induced RNAi gene silencing targeting the inhibition of apple’s PPO genesIn non-science terms: we’ve replaced one piece of railway track of a coast-to-coast railway with a slightly different piece of track
Industry & consumer surveys
Industry interest survey (2007)
Survey of 40 industry leaders:Generally very positive responseFreshcut potential strongly recognizedQuestions re: consumer perception of GE foods
Q: Is OSF’s nonbrowning apple of interest to your company?
Benefits of Arctic® apples
Benefits all along the Value Chain
INCREASE GROWER RETURN
IMPROVE QUALITY &
REDUCE WASTE
NEW PRODUCT EXCITEMENT
DECREASE SHRINK & INCREASE EYE
APPEAL
ULTIMATECONVENIENCE
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Benefits of Arctic® apples
Contributing to sustainability
Up to 50% of apples produced are wasted!2nd most wasted produce item after bagged saladArctic apples help show fruit’s true qualityFuture benefits planned include pest resistance, which can reduce pesticide usage!
Benefits of Arctic® apples
Boosting apple consumption
Lower production costs of freshcut applesHigher quality with more flavour, less treatmentIncrease use of apples in foodserviceMore apples in more places
Benefits of Arctic® apples
Freshcut consumption trigger
…Over two-thirds agreed they’d be more likely to purchase untreated apple slices
Don't know Strongly disagree
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Somewhat agree
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Benefits of Arctic® apples
Consumer benefits
Most consumers are interested in buying Arctic apples!
Don't know Not at all likely
Not likely Neutral Somewhat likely
Extremely likely
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Pre-info Post-info
Arctic apple brand
Labeling Policy
We will be labeling all Arctic apples because we know consumers will want to find them!
Our path to market
The regulatory process
For more information, contact:[email protected]
and visit:www.okspecialtyfruits.com
www.arcticapples.com
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. is a dynamic company dedicated to developing new commercial tree fruit varieties that are attractive to consumers and more
profitable to producers and retailers. The company is operated and largely owned by tree fruit growers throughout British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
