I haven't as I try to avoid (try to, but curiousity gets the best of me) the "club" apples. This variety was bred in the Czech Republic and here in the states I understand it is marketed solely by one orchard; Broetje in Washington State.
I did have a bag of regular Golden Delicious a few weeks ago that were absolutely superb. I've since bought two other bags that were blah.
Two days ago I broke my cardinal rule and purchased a small bag of SweeTango and I'm sorry to report that they were just AMAZING apples.
I'll sure be happy one day when these new apples come off of patent.
I'm in Maryland and right now it looks like only Safeway carries Opal here. I'll keep my eye out and give Opal a try when they show up. I'm sure eventually more growers will get them.

This post was edited by Appleseed70 on Sun, Dec 7, 14 at 13:31

Yes they are very good! Ingles has them for $2.44 a pound so I only bought a couple.

hello Itheweatherman , yes this is a variety of very good apple, and most importantly it is resistant to scab.
Here in Europe, you can buy in nurseries Dalicom (but you have to buy a considerable amount of plants, since they do not sell to retailers).
Is in this link:

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/view/74

And the other varieties resistant to scab

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/pommes/gamme:291

I have in my orchard all these varieties and many more of the Dalicom Catalog

I like much these varieties

Ambrosia pvr

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/view/15

RUBINETTE î Rosso Rafzubex pvr

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/view/81

Fuji KIKU î Fubrax pvr

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/view/33

Elstar Dalistar pvr

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/view/29

Fuji September Wonder îFiero pvr

http://www.dalicom.com/en/produits/view/35

and very many more (is that I have very many varieties of the catalog Dalicom).

It's a shame that you can not buy in the United States, these varieties of apples.

Itheweatherman, I write to you an email ( tonight to finish my work ) for talk about these varieties of apples.

With warm regards
Jose

I'm not a big fan of apples, but this ones passed the taste test---they are out of this world!

I got them at Costco for $8.99 for 5.5 lbs.
Here is a pic:

Yep. I got them at Costco also. The fragrance just reeled me in, the taste won me over. If I plant the seeds, I'll get either Golden Delicious or Topaz, but not Opal, is that correct? Thanks,

No, you will by all odds get something very much none of the above and not nearly so good as any of them. But if you win the genetics lotto you may get a variety better than has ever been grown in the entire world. Ever.

If you plant seeds of a variety of apple (eg Opal variety), the apples germs not be equal to the variety "Mother" ( apple variety Opal ) .
The multiplication of seeds involves a problem of genetic variability (all have studied in school, Mendel's laws in this regard).

http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm

If you plant seeds of a variety of apple (eg Opal variety), the apples germs not be equal to the variety "Mother" ( apple variety Opal ) .
The multiplication of seeds involves a problem of genetic variability (all people have studied in school, Mendel's laws in this regard).

http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm

What you'll get is a nice rootstocks "free", ie born of seed (these rootstocks of apple, born of seed, are characterized by a large size of the tree, a very slow entry into production, and very little resistant to diseases).

Therefore I consider, that for obtaining apple varieties "extreme quality," the best way is the graft.
When I say this, "I speak knowingly".
I know people of united states, do not want not exchange cuttings for graft , with people of Europe, for disease problems.
And not all European fans, are qualified to send cuttings for graft certified "free virus".

I can send , not only certified cuttings coming from trees " virus free ", if not also cuttings desinfectantes with a dilution of bleach and water to 10%

That said I have many varieties of apples high quality and totally "virus free ", and always before to send my cuttings these are disinfected with bleach (half an hour), the virus not resists to bleach, and the cuttings does not affect to bleach them at all.

Therefore if anyone is interested .............

Best regards
Jose

Jose - price? Types you have to offer?

Here is a list of places in the US and a few in Canada to buy the fruit.I don't eat a lot of Apples,but this thread has me curious. Brady

Here is a link that might be useful: Stores Selling Opal Apples

They are so delicious that I bought another pack today.

Everyone should try them!

Jose, I haven't received your e-mail.

Yeah, I think Opal are the best apples available to me right now. I just bought a $4/lb Honeycrisp today that measured 12 brix :(

There were some very good local Fujis that had bruising and water core, cracks and other problems that I really enjoyed for a couple of weeks but they aren't keeping well.

Golden Russet this year were not good at all. Small and green with little of the characteristic flavor.

I was just at Costco today but didn't look at the fruit. I'll have to check if we have the Opals here. I was getting them from a produce store I don't frequent much.

Hi Itheweatherman.
I sent you an email to this email address :

benitezu2011@yahoo.com

Please, if you have not gotten my email, let me know and I will send new.

Best regards
Jose