Heirloom Apple Varieties
Opalescent
This is an American heirloom that emerged during the latter part of the 19th century out of Michigan. George Hudson came across a cluster of apple sprouts in his orchard while clearing oak stumps. He picked one, let it grow and later sent specimens to the USDA under the name of Hudson’s Pride. The American Pomological Society published the new variety as ‘Hastings’ for the town of its discovery. The Opalescent moniker came about by Dayton Star Nurseries in 1899. The skin of this apple glows a brilliant ruby red with slight russeting. The flavor is sprightly and the flesh quite crisp; some say there is a hint of strawberry with a floral essence of lilac. Flesh is cream to yellowish white and firm. Highly susceptible to fire blight. We begin harvest in mid-September.
