Opalescent
 

George M. Hudson introduced Opalescent in Shultz, Barry County, Michigan in the 1890s. It was originally called Hudson’s Pride of Michigan.

Opalescent is very large, somewhat ribbed, and a brilliant deep red. It is a high quality dessert apple. It’s crisp, it’s sweet, it’s tart, it’s juicy but most of all it’s supremely flavorful. The skin can be sticky or greasy. Every so often we meet people who know Opalescent, and they all agree, "Wow! Excellent fresh eating." It’s good for baking and drying as well.

There’s an old Opalescent tree growing in Palermo less than a mile of so from home. John had driven by it probably a thousand times before he finally stopped and tried it one day at the insistence of fellow local fruit explorer, Brian Milakovsky. We're glad he did.

Keeps to mid-late winter.