GMO Madness!
There is a lot of dialogue going on about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). And unless you want to pore through back-issues of Orchard & Vine or Fruit Growers News, mainstream news supplies most of your information.
I recently read a good recap of the Arctic apple, a non-browning apple being studied in the Okanagan by a B.C. biotech company. The article was written by Ms. Shannon Lambie of the Edible Garden Project, also of B.C.
Ms. Lambie points out several key warnings about genetically-modified genes invading local seed sources- for instance, other countries that are REALLY against GMOs (looking at you, all-of-Europe) would drop our produce like a tonne of bananas if they heard that genetically-modified genes were in the DNA of Okanagan apples. The new apple could also ‘confuse’ consumers, leading to misinformation about their apple’s origin and a potential decrease in the sale of BC apples.
However, Ms. Lambie sarcastically remarks that Dr. Neal, the chief agricultural scientist on the non-browning apple project, must not be familiar with the practice of preventing apples from browning using lemon juice. She asserts that he has ‘revolutionary expectations’ for the apple, which, to her credit, I’m sure he does. However, it’s also obvious that the Arctic apple is not a pet project of Dr. Neal.
Frankenfruit
Dr. Neal knows that lemon juice prevents oxidation. Dr. Neal knows how different this apple is compared to other apples, because he is an esteemed orchard scientist. He is a tool being wielded by agricultural research companies, who are simply fine-tuning their business plan BECAUSE YOU ARE TELLING THEM TO WITH YOUR MONEY.
This frankenfruit is the product of a board of investors who see that markets demand fresh, beautiful fruit. We choose fruit at the supermarket based on physical characteristics, preferring newer-looking and undamaged produce.
Ms. Lambie is a part of a wonderful initiative to provide safe, organic, sustainable foods to local residents, and I encourage you to search out produce of this variety. However, if you can’t buck up and eat an ugly piece of fruit or veg once in a while, you have no grounds to be upset when biotechnology companies, strive to give you exactly what you tell them you want. Increasingly, this will involve genetically modified organisms.