Saskatchewan's purple apple mystery: The non-existent fruit that fooled the internet

[Curatorious]

Image: AI-generated

 

In the age of social media, where information spreads faster than a wildfire in a dry forest, the line between reality and fiction has become increasingly blurred. The latest victim of this digital deception? The strikingly vibrant "purple apple" that recently took the internet by storm. While photos and videos of these stunning, colorful apples sparked worldwide interest, there's just one tiny problem—they don't exist.

 

The purple apple saga kicked off when eye-catching images of impossibly vibrant fruits began making the rounds on social media. These digitally crafted marvels, featuring a deep purple skin and a matching violet flesh, were the brainchild of an Instagram account aptly named Unnaturalist AI. The account spun a tantalizing tale, claiming these extraordinary apples hailed from the Canadian prairies of Saskatchewan, yet curiously pinpointed their location at Knott's Berry Farm in sunny California.

 

To add flavor to the fiction, the post described these mythical fruits as having a taste that bizarrely blended cinnamon and banana notes. Taking the story even further, it wove in a cultural element, alleging that these purple wonders were the star ingredient in a traditional "purple applesauce" – a supposed delicacy cherished by indigenous Saskatchewan communities. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Unnaturalist (@unnaturalist.ai)

 

 

This elaborate backstory proved irresistible to social media users hungry for the next big food trend, and as the images went viral, social media users expressed their eagerness to taste these exotic fruits. Some even made pilgrimages to Saskatchewan orchards, hoping to find these elusive purple apples. 

 

However, horticulturists and experts were quick to burst this colorful bubble. Rachelle Hofmeister, a horticulturist at Dutch Growers in Regina, Saskatchewan, clarified that while the region has developed many apple varieties, none of them are purple.

 

This hoax is not an isolated incident. It highlights a broader issue of how easily misinformation can spread in the digital age, especially when aided by artificial intelligence. The purple apple joins the ranks of other AI-generated botanical fantasies, like the infamous "cat's eye dazzle flowers," that have fooled eager plant enthusiasts.

 

As we navigate this brave new world of AI-generated content, it's crucial to approach extraordinary online claims with a healthy dose of skepticism. Before you pack your bags for a purple apple picking adventure, take a moment to fact-check and question the plausibility of what you're seeing.

 

What's the most outlandish AI-generated "discovery" you've fallen for? And more importantly, if purple apples did exist, what flavor combination would you hope they'd taste like?

 

• https://nypost.com/2024/09/20/lifestyle/purple-apples-are-going-viral-on-social-media-orchards-are-being-inundated-with-requests-but-theres-a-catch/
• https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/no-these-viral-purple-apples-don-t-exist-in-saskatchewan-1.7045178
• https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/purple-apples-saskatchewan/
• https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/fact-check-is-purple-apple-saskatchewan-real-fake-viral-images-spark-amazement-online