Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.
Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) is a vertically integrated company specializing in the development, growing, processing, and marketing of novel tree fruit varieties developed through bioengineering. Based in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, OSF was founded in 1996 and acquired by an affiliate of Third Security, LLC in 2019. Its flagship product is its Arctic apple varieties, which provide a sustainable solution to less food waste and improved apple consumption. OSF is committed to innovation, sustainability, and reducing food waste through advanced biotechnology and bioengineering techniques. The company actively participates in climate-smart and sustainable agriculture initiatives, including the USDA Climate Smart Pilot Program.
Industries
Nr. of Employees
small (1-50)
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.
Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, North America
Products
Non-browning tree fruit varieties for fresh-cut processing
Tree fruit varieties developed to resist enzymatic browning through reduced PPO expression, designed for fresh-cut processing to maintain appearance and flavor for an extended period (shelf-life claims provided by developer materials).
Pre-sliced and diced fresh-cut fruit packages for foodservice
Ready-to-serve pre-sliced and diced fruit packages designed for foodservice channels with institutional portion formats and packaging configurations intended to reduce waste and labor.
Hard-pressed beverage products made from developed fruit varieties
Value-added beverage products produced using company-developed fruit varieties, manufactured in dedicated facilities and sold through retail and tasting-room channels.
Non-browning tree fruit varieties for fresh-cut processing
Tree fruit varieties developed to resist enzymatic browning through reduced PPO expression, designed for fresh-cut processing to maintain appearance and flavor for an extended period (shelf-life claims provided by developer materials).
Pre-sliced and diced fresh-cut fruit packages for foodservice
Ready-to-serve pre-sliced and diced fruit packages designed for foodservice channels with institutional portion formats and packaging configurations intended to reduce waste and labor.
Hard-pressed beverage products made from developed fruit varieties
Value-added beverage products produced using company-developed fruit varieties, manufactured in dedicated facilities and sold through retail and tasting-room channels.
Services
R&D partnerships and licensing
Collaborative research and licensing agreements with external breeding and research organizations to co-develop cultivars and apply advanced breeding technologies.
Commercial fresh-cut processing and packing services
On-site receiving, slicing/dicing, packaging, and distribution services for fresh-cut fruit produced in dedicated processing facilities adjacent to production sites.
Controlled-atmosphere storage services
Long-term and short-term CA storage solutions using advanced refrigeration and atmosphere control to preserve fruit quality and enable just-in-time fulfillment.
Laboratory biotechnology and analytical services
In-house molecular and analytical laboratory support for breeding, trait characterization, compositional analysis, and data generation to support development and regulatory submissions.
Sustainability program participation and implementation
Participation in USDA-supported climate-smart programs and adoption of climate-smart production practices with access to advisory and monitoring tools.
R&D partnerships and licensing
Collaborative research and licensing agreements with external breeding and research organizations to co-develop cultivars and apply advanced breeding technologies.
Commercial fresh-cut processing and packing services
On-site receiving, slicing/dicing, packaging, and distribution services for fresh-cut fruit produced in dedicated processing facilities adjacent to production sites.
Controlled-atmosphere storage services
Long-term and short-term CA storage solutions using advanced refrigeration and atmosphere control to preserve fruit quality and enable just-in-time fulfillment.
Laboratory biotechnology and analytical services
In-house molecular and analytical laboratory support for breeding, trait characterization, compositional analysis, and data generation to support development and regulatory submissions.
Sustainability program participation and implementation
Participation in USDA-supported climate-smart programs and adoption of climate-smart production practices with access to advisory and monitoring tools.
Expertise Areas
- Trait engineering for reduced enzymatic browning
- RNAi-based trait introduction and transgenic transformation
- Genome editing and molecular breeding
- Regulatory compliance and safety assessment for bioengineered crops
Key Technologies
- RNA interference (RNAi) gene silencing
- Plant transformation and transgenic insertion methods
- Genome editing and molecular breeding tools
- Controlled-atmosphere storage systems