SUMMERLAND, B.C. - As a kid snacking on apples sliced by my mom, nothing irked me more than seeing that vintage-brown tint growing darker by the minute. To my mom’s dismay, I also refused to eat pre-packaged apple slices because they never tasted fresh. I imagine chefs and foodservice providers face the same challenges, catching them in the crosshairs of quality and convenience. Thanks to Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF), foodservice providers can avoid those trivial annoyances with the new non-browning Arctic® apple fresh slices.
“For the first time, this year’s anticipated Arctic apple crop volume will support expanding into foodservice,” explains Neal Carter, President. “We’ve been extremely busy planting in the orchards. We expect to have an estimated 8 million pounds of Arctic apples for the 2019-2020 season and plan to continue to increase availability in coming years.”
OSF revealed its innovative apple creation at the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) recent Foodservice Show. According to a press release, Arctic apples fresh slices were developed through bioengineering to reduce food waste for chefs and foodservice professionals. The 28-day shelf life extends well beyond the industry average of 18-21 days. Gone are the days of biting into a pre-packaged apple slice with a grimace. These non-browning apples provide a crisp, juicy experience akin to eating apples fresh from the grove.
“It was exciting for us to exhibit at the PMA Foodservice show for the first time and to give attendees the opportunity to experience the orchard freshness of Arctic® Golden fresh slices,” said J.F. Gamelin, Director of Sales. “Arctic apples’ non-browning trait offers a key benefit to the foodservice industry—including less prep, less waste, and better taste.”
The OSF sliced Arctic apples will be available in 40 oz bags of both Arctic® Golden and Arctic® Granny varieties, along with a 100-count case of 2 oz packages.
AndNowUKnow is thrilled to see this concept come to life; check back with us for more updates from Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.
