In a headline‑making moment, a brand‑new apple variety has been christened after the Grammy‑winning rapper Ludacris. The Ludacrisp, first offered to orchards in 2021 and to Sprouts Farmers Markets last year, is now growing on a 200‑acre orchard in upstate New York.
JP Pacello and the Orchard
“I came from a family of farmers,” JP Pacello, owner of Pacello Orchard, told TODAY.com. His grandfather farmed corn, beans and wheat on the same land that Pacello now uses for apples. Pacello began planting trees, fell in love with the work, and has expanded his orchard to about 200 acres.
Varieties and Focus
Pacello’s orchard produces only fresh fruit, with no processing or juicing. He cultivates Galas, Honeycrisp, Evercrisp and the newly introduced Ludacrisp. The Ludacrisp is a relatively new variety, offered to orchards in 2021 and to Sprouts Farmers Markets starting last year.
Naming Through MAIA
The apple’s name came from Pacello’s membership in the Midwest Apple Improvement Association (MAIA), a 1,200‑member organization that creates new varieties for U.S. and Canadian orchards. Pacello explained that the era of DMX, Ja Rule, Lil Wayne, Lil Jon and Ludacris inspired him to choose a name that would attract his age group.
Breeding Origins
According to MAIA, the Ludacrisp originates from an open‑pollination of the Sweet 16 apple variety. Bill Dodd, MAIA president and CEO, said the apple harvests in mid‑to‑late October and has a flavor akin to Juicy Fruit gum. Dodd noted, “Apple breeding is not an incredibly difficult process, but it’s an incredibly time consuming process.”
The Long Road to Release
MAIA’s breeding program has released about nine varieties over the past 25 to 27 years. Dodd added, “If you take an apple seed from any apple and plant it, it will be like a child.” He continued, “Any apple seed is a mix of two parent trees: the tree the apple grew on and the tree that provided the pollen.”
When seeds grow into trees, they produce apples. Dodd explained that 98% of the resulting apples are terrible and are discarded, but some are exceptional and possess desirable traits. The exceptional ones are then grafted onto other trees and prepared for release to growers.
Naming the Variety
The final piece of the process is naming. MAIA’s membership pools suggestions, and the name Ludacrisp proved polarizing. In a meeting with about 20 people, the room was completely split. “There was no one who was indifferent about it. They either thought it was the greatest thing ever or they hated it,” Dodd said. “I’m like, ‘Boom, that’s what we want,’” he added.
After deciding on the name, MAIA went through the trademarking process. “Bada bing, bada boom,” Dodd said.
Other Apples Named After People
Ludacris joins an elite group of humans with apples named after them. The McIntosh apple was named for farmer John McIntosh in 1811, Granny Smith after Maria Ann Smith in 1868, and Pink Lady after Australian Maud “Lady” Williams in the 1980s. Other named varieties include Early Joe, Jonathan, King David and Kaiser Wilhelm, though few from the current century have received this distinction.
Social Media Buzz
On TikTok, user Kat Kurdz posted an October video with millions of views, declaring, “Move over, Honeycrisp… there’s a new apple in town,” while the clip was soundtracked by “Number One Spot.” Users flooded the comments with Ludacris lyrics such as, “Will they be available in different Area Codes?”, “They said ‘ROLLOUT’” and “Move, crisp, get out the way.”
No Response From the Rapper
Representatives for Ludacris did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment, so it is unclear how the artist feels about the apple bearing his name.
Key Takeaways
- The Ludacrisp apple, named after rapper Ludacris, is harvested mid‑ to late October and tastes like Juicy Fruit gum.
- Pacello Orchard’s 200‑acre operation in upstate New York now includes the Ludacrisp among its fresh‑fruit varieties.
- The name came from a 1,200‑member breeding group, MAIA, and sparked a split opinion among its members.
The Ludacrisp’s launch may bring a fresh flavor to the apple market and a playful nod to a generation that grew up listening to hip‑hop.
