Grapes of Arkansas Workshop/Field Day set for Sept. 15
Aug. 5, 2016
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Grapes of Arkansas Workshop and Field Day set for Sept. 15
- Info/registration: Renee Threlfall, 479-575-4677 or rthrelf@uark.edu
(350 words)
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The Sept. 15 Grapes of Arkansas Workshop and Field Day will explore key points along the journey from grape vine to consumer.
The event will be held at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Fruit Research Station in Clarksville. The event begins at 2 p.m. and ends with a vineyard tour of the station’s grape breeding program beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Registration is due Sept. 8 and the cost is $10 for members of the Arkansas Association of Grape Growers or $20 for non-members. Online registration and payment is available at http://food-science.uark.edu/ or http://horticulture.uark.edu/ .
For more information or to register by regular mail, contact Renee Threlfall, Institute of Food Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2650 N. Young Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704. Phone: 479-575-4677 or rthrelf@uark.edu.
On the agenda are: John Clark, distinguished professor, who will be talking about the grape breeding program and conducting the vineyard tour; Jacob Paulk, of Paulk Vineyards in Georgia, will discuss his experiences in growing muscadine grape varieties. Mercy Olmstead, associate professor at the University of Florida will talk about Muscadine grape varieties for fresh market and wine production. Amanda McWhirt, extension fruit and vegetable specialist will talk about establishing a vineyard; and Jackie Lee, extension horticulture specialist, will talk about pest management in the vineyard.
“With the rise in the locovore movement and increasing popularity of wine, has come an increased interest in grapes,” said Threlfall. “We designed this workshop and field day to address the vineyard life cycle from establishment to consumers.”
“Of special interest to growers in the South are muscadines – a grape with a strong and loyal regional following for both juice and fresh market,” she said. “We’re glad to have Jacob Paulk, who planted his first vine in 1970 and whose farm is on land now being worked by the sixth generation of his family.”
The workshop is funded in part by the Arkansas Association of Grape Growers, http://argrapegrowers.org.
For more information about horticulture resources within the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact (rthrelf@uark.edu) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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