Some apples have a story that takes them across the ocean before they ever reach an American orchard. Ladina is one of them! Developed in Switzerland, this beautiful apple combines Topaz and Fuji genetics to create a crisp, juicy apple with a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Its deep red coloring makes it stand out in the orchard, while its disease resistance makes it especially interesting from a grower’s perspective. Now, Ladina is becoming part of the Apple Holler family!
Ladina is a modern apple variety developed by Agroscope, the Swiss agricultural research organization. The variety was created from a controlled cross between Topaz and Fuji in 1999 at Wädenswil, Switzerland. Ladina was selected for several desirable characteristics, including its attractive fruit, crisp texture and resistance to important apple diseases. It was first commercialized in the early 2010s and has since found its way into orchards beyond Switzerland.
Ladina is a real head-turner. The fruit has a yellow-green base color with a strong dark-red blush that can cover much of the apple’s surface.
The apples are medium-sized and generally round to slightly obolid in shape. Inside, the flesh is yellowish, firm, crisp and juicy. It’s the kind of apple that looks beautiful in an orchard basket, and even better once you cut it open!
Ladina has a balanced sweet-tart flavor with plenty of juiciness. Its crisp texture gives it a satisfying fresh bite, while some descriptions of the variety note distinctive fruity flavors reminiscent of peach and lychee. That combination makes Ladina particularly interesting for apple lovers who enjoy varieties with something a little different going on beneath the sweetness.
Ladina’s crisp, juicy texture makes it especially enjoyable fresh. Try it for:
Its balanced sweet-tart flavor gives it enough acidity to work well in recipes while still being sweet enough to enjoy straight from the tree.
Ladina wasn’t selected just because it tastes good. One of the variety’s most interesting characteristics is its resistance to apple scab, thanks to the Rvi6/Vf resistance gene. It also has tolerance to fire blight and relatively low susceptibility to powdery mildew. That makes Ladina an interesting example of how modern apple breeding can combine good eating quality with traits that help trees withstand disease pressure. At Apple Holler, we love apples that taste great, but we’re also interested in the science and work that goes into growing them!
Ladina comes from two very different apples. Topaz is known for its tart, aromatic flavor and disease resistance. Fuji is famous for its sweetness, crispness and excellent eating quality. Put those genetics together and you get Ladina: a colorful apple with a balanced sweet-tart flavor, crisp texture and strong disease resistance.
We just planted Ladina trees at Apple Holler this year (2026)! Because these trees are brand new, they need time to establish themselves and grow before they’ll be ready to produce a crop for our guests. Ladina won’t be on our picking calendar this season, but we’re already looking forward to the day when those young trees are mature enough to fill their branches with beautiful red apples! When that day comes, you’ll be able to discover a little piece of Swiss apple breeding right here at our 78-acre farm in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. For now, we’ll be giving these trees plenty of time, care and patience. Good apples are worth waiting for!
Variety: Ladina
Origin: Switzerland
Developer: Agroscope
Parentage: Topaz × Fuji
Color: Yellow-green with intense dark-red blush
Flavor: Balanced sweet-tart, fruity and juicy
Texture: Firm, crisp and juicy
Season: Mid-season, approximately 10–15 days after Gala
Best For: Fresh eating, salads, snacking and baking
Special Traits: Scab resistance, fire-blight tolerance and low susceptibility to powdery mildew
