Apples

"Nor is it every apple I desire,
Nor that which pleases every palate best;
'T is not the lasting Deuxan I require,
Nor yet the red-cheeked Greening I request,
Nor that which first beshrewed the name of wife,
Nor that whose beauty caused the golden strife:
No, no! bring me an apple from the tree of life."

--Henry David Thoreau, Wild Apples

10 November 2013

Apples 

“Apple” – the word and its associated translations appear across time and culture.  In my childhood Bible, Eve’s original sin was portrayed as an apple.  I was told the stories of Johnny Appleseed, who spread the good news of reforestation west to the Mississippi River.  Nowadays, my interactions with apples pertain to desserts, smothered pork, Christmas decorations, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s offspring.  I tend to shy away from apples at the grocery store because they always rank highly on the “Dirty Dozen” listing and buying organic fruit ranks lower than meat and dairy on my sustainably prioritized shopping budget[i]. 

Most recently, I fussed on campus because someone swiped the Angry Orchard hard cider I had stowed in a collective fridge.  I was annoyed because hard cider is generally more expensive than beer but I always keep a few on hand for that one gluten-intolerant friend that sheepishly unleashes a reverse guilt trip “No, it’s a weird allergy.  I’m used to it.” 

So this was news to me. Householder and Flesher’s article is primarily an agricultural forecast explaining upcoming economic trends, and my appetite for sustainable food was not sated[ii].  Naturally I fell into the Internet, chasing down this phantom 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP from here on out).  “Methylll…. me... meth?!!” No, don’t worry.  Here’s a short explanation of how 1-MCP is used in fruit and vegetable production. 

Were you ever told to put a banana in the fruit bowl because it makes the other fruit ripen faster?  This effect is real, and having to deal with the waxy lime-green tomahawks for sale at the grocery store these days is quite useful if you prefer eating your groceries the same calendar week they were purchased.  Bananas (and lots of other produce) emit ethylene gas, which drives the ripening process[iii]. 

Why does this matter?  Understanding ethylene gas production is the key to why the Wolverine State’s apple growers are championing 1-MCP.  1-MCP is diluted with water (with other trace components) and dispersed as a vapor in enclosed coolers, greenhouses, etc.  The 1-MCP vapor blocks the apples’ ethylene receptors and halts the ripening process for an extended period f time[iv].  As long as the vapor and environmental conditions remain the same, apples can remain in storage for 9-10 monthsii. 

2013 has been generous to Michigan orchard owners, with a predicted harvest of 30 million bushels – that’s 12 apples for each Americanii.  These apple growers are embracing the application of 1-MCP as a way to store and sell apples at market demand levels over several months, rather than sell during harvest, which would flood the market and reduce the price received by all.  Staggering sales of apples will allow growers to receive stable and higher incomes on average for late 2013 and early 2014. 

Sounds great right? I couldn’t tell at first, so I dug deeper into the research and use of 1-MCP around the globe. 

Here’s what I found:

A.     1-MCP has been cleared for use in produce in by health administrations in the US and the EU[v].  I generally feel a bit better about chemicals approved by the EU, especially France – the nit-pickiest of all eaters.  1-MCP is used frequently in wine production, so I can’t help but suspect a bit of oversight could have occurred at this point for the benefit of France’s most prided industry. 

B.     But all in all, the research I read showed that

a.     More research is needed to understand the affects of 1-MCP ingestion on humans (duh, we could always use more research)

b.     Existing research has found that produce stored using 1-MCP vapor does retain residue of the plant growth regulator.  Levels of the chemical residue exist on produce, but in no cases were concerning concentrations found[vi].  However, in the US the EPA classified the active ingredient in 1-MCP to be a biochemical pesticide and exempted it from the federal requirement of establishing a tolerance levels[vii].  The exposure level for lab animals was higher than a human consumer would ingest.  One study examined inhalation of 1-MCP vapor in high concentrations by rats and found adverse affects on nasal pathways and the spleen[viii]..  To me, this is a reminder that a genuinely sustainable food system includes sustainable labor.  Use of the chemical today is limited to enclosed spaces – greenhouses, storage coolers, trucks – meaning drift of the vapor is minimalvi.  Workers in the greenhouse should be provided clean gear and enclosures should be vented before entry to prevent exposure to 1-MCP.  Using 1-MCP application on outdoor crop fields is a new idea that could make vapor drift problematic, although (you called it) more research is needed. 

c.      Other research has found that on top of slower maturation, produce treated with 1-MCP vapor retained water-soluble antioxidants until allowed to ripen, meaning a consumer eating a fruit in June could get a full dose of vitamin C despite it being off the branch since Novemberv.  Research also found that 1-MCP vapor storage prevents apples’ appearances from degrading over long storage monthsv. 

Here’s what I took away:

My mind always goes to alternate (more holistic) ways of preserving food.  We could make jams and jellies and pies and donuts and smothered porks till the holiday sales are long gone, which I am 100% for.  But, for all that effort the apples used would undoubtedly be a drop in the bucket of the actual crop and you know… diabetes.  To my fellow eaters out there, be mindful of the availability of Michigan and Midwestern apples this year.  We all find ourselves looking for Cuties in September or farm-fresh eggs on dark winter days.  Let apples be a positive reminder of seasonality in what we eat, and for apples that may no longer be affected by seasons, be aware of how much technology is used before they hit the shelves 9 months later. 

On the ethical issue of whether eating 10 month old apples is how we should be eating in 2013, I have no problem with it.  OF COURSE if I were to buy apples I would buy organic (if affordable) just for peace-of-mind.  If I were to grab an apple slice stored in 1-MCP I wouldn’t eat the whole tray but certainly would eat a slice or two.  It is important to remain aware of the future food supply.  To compensate for the human population, produce with long-term storability that retains nutritional value will facilitate healthy food access in the future US. 

My recommendation for the future of food sustainability would be for consumers to educate themselves on what produce is available locally, regionally, and domestically.  If you can afford what is local and fresher from the branch, continue your support.  For those without that option, be aware that producing food at lower prices means measures are taken to reduce input expenses by cost cutting through new, and oftentimes scary, technological innovations.  I won’t deny that I wouldn’t set foot in a greenhouse filled with the 1-MCP gas and remain stringent on my labor stance that no worker should have to experience exposure.  Farm labor and safety regulations, when properly and locally implemented, could ensure this.  I also won’t deny that 1-MCP applications on outdoor crops is an enticing perspective, but again scary.  Farmers having the ability to slow their crop’s maturation could mean better harvests.  Farmers could put their crops “to sleep” during drought to reduce loss and later allow crops to mature completely.  More control over the demand for agricultural water could have enormous advantages in urban and drought-prone areas.  However, it is unknown if outdoor application of 1-MCP could cause the pesticide to leach into water supplies, affect local plants, or be inhaled by humans and animals.  Use of 1-MCP to increase storage life, retain produce nutrition, and maximize yields is tantalizing and will likely lead to new and expanded uses in the near future.  Hopefully, enough time will be allocated to allow for proper testing for environmental implications.  Studies may take longer because they are tracing stored food over several months, but then again an equal amount of time will be available for careful observation and composed methodology. 

---

[i] Shapley, Dan. “The New Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic.” The Daily Green. Accessed on 9 November 2013 http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods#comments

[ii] Householder, Mike and Flesher, J. “Rockabye apples: Michigan's apple industry doesn't want record yield to go to waste.” The Republic, Columbus, IN.  Accessed on 9 November 2013 http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/da84183890ea47f99cdf6977848fb9f8/US--Food-and-Farm-Sleeping-Apples

[iii] “What Causes Bananas to Ripen?” Accessed on 9 November 2013. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4574458_what-causes-bananas-ripen.html

[iv] “1-Methylcyclopropene (MCP) (224459) Fact Sheet.” Ombudsman, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511P) Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed on: 9 November 2013 http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-224459_25-Nov-09.pdf

[v] Watkins, Chris. “The use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on fruits and vegetables,” Biotechnology Advances, Volume 24, Issue 4, July–August 2006, Pages 389-409, ISSN 0734-9750, Accessed on 10 November 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2006.01.005. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073497500600022X)

[vi] 1-methylcyclopropene; amendment to an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. 2008. Lanham: Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/190300255?accountid=10598

[vii] Serafini, Maureen. Re: Registration of theMajor Change in Labeling for 1-Methylcyclopropene Contained in AFxRD-038 (EPA Reg. No. 71297-6; Chemical Code 224459). New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Accessed on 10 November 2013 http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/herb-growthreg/fatty-alcohol-monuron/methylcyclo/afxrd_mcl_0409.pdf

[viii] 1-methylcyclopropene; amendment to an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. 2008. Lanham: Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/190300255?accountid=10598