You could soon be munching on genetically modified apples

Don't expect to see them too soon, but within a few years, genetically modified apples could be making their way to your local grocery store. Federal regulators have approved two types of apples genetically altered to resist turning brown after they're bruised or sliced.

Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny Smith are being developed by a Canadian company, Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. of Summerland, British Columbia.

The Agriculture Department gave its OK on Friday, saying the apples aren't likely to pose a plant pest risk or have "a significant impact on the human environment."

The first Arctic apples are expected to be available in late 2016 in small, test-market quantities.

It takes apple trees several years to produce significant quantities, so it will take time before the genetically-modified apples are widely distributed.

"We can't wait until they're available for consumers," said the company's president and founder, Neal Carter.

The development could boost sales of sliced apples for snacks, salads and other uses.

Apples brown quickly after they are cut open and exposed to air. The browning-resistant varieties are considered especially desirable for use as pre-sliced apples, in fruit salad and salad bars, and in the manufacturing of juice.

The company said it is working on developing other browning-resistant apple varieties as well.

The nonprofit Center for Food Safety questioned whether browning-resistance will mask apples that no longer are fresh. The Environmental Working Group said the government's decision to allow marketing of the apples shows the need for mandatory, clear-labeling of genetically modified foods.

The Food and Drug Administration is not required to approve genetically engineered crops for consumption, but most companies will go through a voluntary safety review process with the FDA before they put them on the market.

In November, the department also approved commercial planting of a bruising-resistant potato.

While still controversial, genetically-modified foods have for the most part gone mainstream. A Consumer Reports study last year found that scores of products from cereals to baby formulas on supermarket shelves contained some ingredients which have had their DNA manipulated.

At the same time, polls have shown that a majority of Americans want to know when their products contain genetically modified organisms, or foods grown from seeds engineered in labs.

There also remain fears, especially from organic farmers, that genetically modified crops could spread and grow in areas where they're not wanted. In response, scientists are working on developing techniques intended to keep them contained.