FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Muscadine Grape Workshop and Field Day will be on Sept. 19 at the Fruit Research Station in Clarksville.
The program will include updates on muscadine breeding research, grape tasting and a session about establishing a muscadine vineyard. The event will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Fruit Research Station, 1749 State Highway 818, in Clarksville.
“We look forward to hosting our grape industry at this event so they can interact and network while learning more about our muscadine fruit breeding and the status of the U.S. muscadine industry,” Renee Threlfall, research scientist of enology and viticulture for the Division of Agriculture, said.
Attendees will hear from a variety of experts about grape production, establishing a vineyard and vineyard, pest and disease management, and get a firsthand look at the Division of Agriculture’s muscadine grape breeding program with a field tour.
Registration is $20 a person and includes dinner. The deadline to register is Sept. 12. Participants can register using the online registration form.
Speakers and topics include:
- Margaret Worthington, associate professor of horticulture, will give an update on the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Muscadine Breeding Program
- Mark Wessel, director of horticulture research for Gardens Alive! will give an update on seedless muscadine cultivars
- Amanda McWhirt, fruit and vegetable research specialist for the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, will give a presentation on considerations in establishing a muscadine vineyard
- Renee Threlfall, research scientist of enology and viticulture, will give a research update on Arkansas fresh-market and processing muscadines
- Joseph Post, vice president of sales for Post Winery, will give a presentation on the past, present and future of the Arkansas muscadine industry
- Greg Ison, co-owner of Ison’s Nursery and Vineyard in Brooks, Georgia, will give a presentation on commercial opportunities for muscadine production
The Division of Agriculture’s muscadine breeding program was established in 2006 by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station with a focus on improved consumer quality, disease resistance, and extending the marketing season. The program also seeks to broaden where the grapes are grown and marketed. The Experiment Station is the research arm of the Division of Agriculture.
For more information about the workshop, please contact Renee Threlfall by phone at (479) 575-4677 or email at rthrelf@uark.edu.