Opal, a branded variety of browning-resistant apple, has been independently verified as not being a genetically modified product, according to a press release from FirstFruits Marketing of Washington, the fruit's exclusive distributor in North America.
As a result, it becomes the first whole fresh apple variety in the US to be certified as such by Non-GMO Project, the region's only independent verification for non-GMO food.
'We want consumers to have confidence that Opal is not a GMO product and not confuse Opal with the new GMO variety currently under consideration by the USDA,” said Keith Mathews, chief executive of FirstFruits Marketing, referring in fact to two GMO non-browning apples –Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny – developed byCanadian companyOkanagan Specialty Fruits.
'We understand that some consumers are concerned about GMO products and felt it was important to clarify the natural non-browning characteristic is just that -- natural.'
Opal, a natural Topaz-Golden Delicious cross, was developed by traditional breeding techniques in the Czech Republic and introduced commercially for the first time in 2006.
Its yellow-gold color and sweetness are inherited from Golden Delicious but, according to FirstFruits, it lacks the propensity to bruise, while its crisp bite and slight tang are derived from Topaz.
One key and natural characteristic of Opal apples is their resistance to oxidation when cut, which means the apples are very slow to brown.
Non-GMO Project verification of both organic and conventional Opal apple varieties is a way to ensure that consumers understand Opal’s resistance to browning is all natural, the group said.
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