Federal agencies in the U.S. and Canada are expected to soon give approval to the non-browning Arctic apple, but a group of retailers in British Columbia have decided no matter what the government says they won’t sell the genetically modified apples.
The pledges from came in response to a request from an anti-GMO group, the Health Action Network Society, a 30-year-old non-profit organization based in British Columbia.
“Our main concern is it hasn’t been tested,” said Michael Volker, operations director. “We wanted this to be a positive campaign, so we didn’t publish the retailers who refused to sign (the pledge). Instead we published the stores that did sign.”
Neal Carter, president of Okanagan Specialty Fruits, which developed the Arctic Apples, defends its safety and nutritional value. He is petitioning the Canadian and U.S. governments for permission to plant and sell the cultivar.
“Arctic apples were developed to provide consumers a choice, and we are confident that consumers will purchase Arctic apples,” Carter said. “Arctic apples will decrease waste caused by superficial browning throughout the supply chain, including in consumers’ homes. Also since Arctic apples will not need anti-oxidant treatments, fresh-cut apples will be available at a lower cost making more apples available in more places.”
Read the full, original article: Canadian retailers sign anti-GMO apple pledge
