U-Pick Non-browning GMO Apples?
By Tara Okuma
Fall season brings about colder weather,
rainy days, overcast skies, and swapping out summer tank tops and shorts for
warm bundling winter wardrobes. The faint scent of the holidays is also near
with apple-picking season. Although many apple orchards experienced a light
apple-producing season and had to close their U-Pick season earlier than usual due
to Southern California’s drought, unusual humid heat, and wacky El Niño
weather, many of the apple orchards are still offering orchard farm activities,
such as hayrides, pumpkin patches, and cider pressing. Many of which can be
found in Oak Glen and Yucaipa, California.
Apple-picking season usually runs from
after Labor Day to Thanksgiving weekend, but Southern California’s season was
cut short leaving many without the opportunity to pick apples this year. Since
we cannot be deprived of picking our own apples due to a short season, why not
produce long-lasting, drought and environment tolerant apples? This would
entail genetically modifying the apples and none are currently on the market,
yet.
Although not drought or temperature
resistant apples, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that they have deregulated two
genetically engineered (GE) apple varieties as of February
2015, which will hit select markets in late 2016. Apples contain the enzyme, polyphenol
oxidase (PPO) that mixes with polyphenols when an apple is cut or bruised. This
oxidative chemical reaction leads to the
unpleasant browning and mushiness of damaged or cut apples; however, the Arctic®
apple has been genetically modified to decrease the amount of PPO being
produced in the apple, which means less browning, waste, and unpleasant tastes
and textures. It’s like hitting the off-button for unappetizing sliced apple
browning.
According to The Packer, fresh-cut apples have been steadily
increasing in sales and consumer demands over the past 10 years, and between
2011 and 2012, apples used for fresh-cut slices increased over 60%. Fresh-cut
apples are quick and convenient for consumers, and consumer demands have
contributed to an increase of more than 60% in fresh-cut fruit sales. The USDA
patented a technology, NatureSeal®, which treats, coats, and packages cut
apple slices and extends the shelf life of apples for up to four weeks in
refrigeration; NatureSeal® is now used in apple processing
facilities, food retailers, fast-food restaurants, and in schools through the
National School Lunch Program. Fresh-cut apples are also found in 84% of
supermarkets, making it convenient for parents to pack nutritious lunch snacks
for their children.
The use of NatureSeal®
provides the convenience of sliced apples, using a
blend of added vitamins, minerals, and calcium salts to preserve the apples. In
a market where consumer demands less
preservatives and food additives in their foods, the Arctic® apple
would help to decrease the use of preservatives, which may contribute to the off-taste and higher costs of freshly cut apples. The process used to prevent apples from
browning is expensive, and one way to lessen those costs is to breed apples
that produce little to no PPO. In addition, agro-industrial apple waste is a
growing concern. Apples are one of the major fruits consumed globally, and
apples that are not fit for the fresh market end up at the apple processing
plants. Only 20% of the waste from processed apple products, such as apple
juice and jam, get used as animal feed. The other 80% heads for the landfill,
which has adverse side effects like producing greenhouse gases, causing
dangerous microbial growth in landfills, and the cost to treat and transport
the waste. In the near future, using the Arctic® apple for sliced and
whole apples would not only lower over all industry costs and
improve taste, it would also be a more convenient and viable option that keeps
in line with the consumer market trend today. The long-term effect of the
Arctic® apple as opposed to conventional apples is the potential to
increase apple production and shelf life, minimize costs,
and decrease pesticides use.
Agro-scientists have figured out a way to
silence the four genes that produce PPO, similar to how a gun silencer mutes
the sound it makes when the gun goes off. The apple still looks, feels,
functions, and tastes the same, except there is less production of PPO, the
enzyme responsible for apple browning. For those concerned, the Arctic® apple
will not affect freshly baked warm apple pies because PPO is not responsible
for the caramelized browning most are accustomed to. Malliard browning and caramelization
are due to the chemical reaction between an amino acid and a reducing sugar in
the presence of heat. As for hot spiced apple cider made with Arctic®
apples, it may appear lighter in color but will still retain the same delicious
apple flavor.
Genes found in conventional apples were silenced to produce the Arctic®
apple, but some consumers, such as the anti-GMO movement, fear the franken-fruit (i.e., the Arctic® apple)
because the apple is genetically altered. There are pseudoscience-spewing
food-mongers, such as Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has
promoted his anti-GMO stance on his show and have
posted videos about why the Arctic® apple is not
safe; however The Slate reported that Dr. Oz had received at
least three James Randi Education Foundation Pigasus Awards for his “refusal to
face reality…and continued promotion of quack medical practices, paranormal
belief, and pseudoscience.” The Arctic® apple will be the most
researched and tested apple by the time it hits the commercial market. This
recently deregulated fruit will not only help to lower costs,
waste, and the use of preservatives and pesticides, but will also allow
scientists to focus more on determining the optimal packaging, atmospheric
environment, and storage temperatures to retain freshness and food safety without
added off-flavors or food additives. And one day soon, you may be picking,
slicing, or purchasing the convenient and delicious non-browning Arctic®
apples.
Although U-Pick season is over this year,
you can still head over to some of Southern California’s apple picking
orchards for other
fun-filled activities and get a head start on what to expect next year.