It was last year that I interviewed Neal Carter, president of Okanagan Specialty Fruits, makers of the first genetically engineered apple. The apple is called the “Arctic apple,” a variety that has been engineered to produce less of a chemical that causes conventional apples to turn brown when sliced, bitten or bruised. At the time of the interview, Arctic apple trees had been in the ground in field trials for over ten years. Carter was hopeful, despite government delays, that the waiting period for permission to commercially grow and sell his apples might be finally coming to a close.
   

In November, a second “public comment period” was opened, then closed, then re-opened and extended. In this climate of uncertainty, it became clear that delays in “deregulating” the apple were the only sure bet.

A new piece on Forbes.com by Henry Miller, fellow at the Hoover Institution, gives an overview of the current regulatory situation with the apple and details the reasons why he believes the new delays are “unnecessary and inappropriate.”

Read the whole thing here.