Rent-Seeking In The Apple Industry

A small food company in Canada has grown an apple that doesn’t turn brown after being sliced.

Not everyone thinks it’s a great idea. A representative for incumbent apple growers told The New York Times, “We don’t think it’s in the best interest of the apple industry of the United States to have that product in the marketplace at this time.”

This translates roughly to, “We think consumers will prefer this product to ours, and will hurt our bottom line. Therefore, regulators should keep these things off the market for us.”

I’d rather consumers decide on the non-browning apple’s merits, thank you.