About Us

CORPORATE

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF) is a privately-held agriculture biotechnology company focusing on developing new tree fruit varieties. Based in Summerland, BC, Canada, the firm holds licensed technologies that permit it to introduce novel attributes into new or existing apple, pear, cherry, peach, nectarine and apricot fruit trees. Such work makes OSF one of the first firms pursuing genetic engineering and/or precision breeding in the commercial tree fruit industry.

VISION

• A technology company profitably commercializing new tree fruit varieties that have proven performance and improved genetic traits;
• Successfully collaborating with other institutions to access new germplasm, trait and enabling technologies;
• Developing new and unique products that offer producers, processors, retailers and consumers enhancements in food safety, quality, nutrition, productivity and profitability;
• Products incorporate best production practices and address stakeholder environmental concerns.

MISSION

To use biotechnology to develop safe, high-quality tree fruit varieties and related enabling technologies that address grower, processor, retailer and consumer quality and productivity concerns; and to successfully market and commercialize these products worldwide beginning in 2010.

Taking Tree Fruit Breeding into the Next Century

OSF is a dynamic, young Canadian agricultural biotechnology company. OSF's research and development program is based on a strong industry and government partnership. Through a collaborative effort with the renowned Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, OSF is harnessing the latest advancements in biotechnology to produce new tree fruit varieties.

Introducing Unique Attributes to Tree Fruit Varieties

As part of the company's entry level strategy, OSF is undertaking a platform project which seeks to introduce improved fruit quality attributes into apple, pear and soft fruits. The firm holds the exclusive worldwide license from CSIRO in Australia for the use of the Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) gene for the control of enzymatic browning in tree fruits. The use of this gene, plus other licensed enabling technologies, permits OSF to develop tree fruits where enzymatic browning is inhibited. Such fruits are unique, as this technology will reduce harvest and post harvest bruising, packing cullage and increase quality appearance to consumers. A non-browning fruit lends itself to new markets, whether they are in the fresh-cut market, the whole fresh fruit market or the institutional fruit processors. Established in 1996, the company's priority focus has been to develop tree fruit varieties for commercial apple production; we have recently expanded this focus and are currently working with apple, pear, peach and cherry.

Dedicated to Increasing Producer, Packer and Wholesaler Profits

"We have the technology to offer, in a completely benign way, some very appealing traits in tree fruit," says OSF President Neal Carter. "When apples or other tree fruits don't brown, it opens up a huge, new market for their use."

Through this technology, tree fruits will become more suitable for the fresh-cut market. So far; the tree fruit sector has seen only limited benefits from this rapidly expanding component of the produce industry. OSF believes that a cored and sliced fruit, which does not turn brown, may act as a "consumption trigger" capable of increasing sales volumes and opening new markets. This has been apparent in the "Baby Carrot" market and Carter feels that a similar opportunity exists for apples and other tree fruits. Growers, retailers and institutional fruit processors have expressed interest in these new "non-browning" varieties, as they see the potential benefit in the reduction of both harvest and post harvest bruising associated with handling and shipping.

"We are very encouraged by the potential demand for these non-browning tree fruit varieties," says Carter. "We have had strong indications from all sectors - growers, retailers and processors - that a non-browning apple has tremendous appeal."

Through innovative use of gene silencing technology, OSF has plans to incorporate this non-browning trait into cherries to control stem browning. The same technology could also lead to a breakthrough in peaches or nectarines in order to reduce internal browning and external bruising and to make them more acceptable to the fresh-cut salad industry.

Given the complexity of the technology, OSF is now working with institutions and commercial partners in Canada, the United States, South America, New Zealand and Australia to promote the development of genetically modified tree fruits targeted at these markets, using popular local varieties. OSF has developed a number of licensing approaches to support such arrangements.

The company is currently propagating plant material that is expected to be ready for sale to commercial nurseries in 2009/10. To maximize the commercial benefits of this technology and the licenses held by the firm, OSF is seeking commercial partnership arrangements worldwide. Such partners may be either technology licensees or product licensees.

"We are currently exploring partnerships to assist in the propagation and distribution of this plant material as it becomes available," commented Carter. "We are looking to enter into agreements with established companies that bring proven marketing experience and value to the table. We need to establish a worldwide network of licensed distributors."

Passive, OSF has a clear business plan aiming to be a strong technology company servicing the tree fruit industry. This included technology licenses, genetic resources and marketing strategies capable of a dynamic and sustainable presence in the industry. Concerns over the acceptability of genetic engineering tools to develop new plant varieties have always been at the forefront of our minds. We believe in our approach and, given the rapid growth and expansion in agricultural biotechnology industry and the planted area of transgenic crops ... now over 100 million hectares planted worldwide, we feel the real benefits of this technology are just beginning to arise.

Committed to Delivering Products that Benefit the Consumer

OSF is taking a conservative approach to our biotechnology work. We are not adding foreign gene traits to our products. We view gene amplification or suppression as a safe and proven approach to improve fruit quality. Furthermore, we are working diligently to be on the forefront in the use of precision breeding techniques. Although we are using genetic engineering tools, we aim to only use plant genes to develop new tree fruit varieties.