Those who want to learn about grape harvesting or just want some fresh grape juice or crushed grapes should join Middle Tennessee State University’s Tony Johnston and others for this year’s Grape Harvest Day in late August.

The harvest will take place from 7 until 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the vineyard at the Lane Agri-Park, 315 John R. Rice Blvd. in Murfreesboro, near the UT TSU Extension Rutherford County Office.

Former MTSU fermentation science student Connor Ball uses pruners to clip off bundles of grapes in this file photo during the first Grape Harvest Day in 2018 at the Lane Agri-Park in Murfreesboro. Volunteers are invited to help harvest the grapevines from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28. Ball, who has earned a bachelor’s degree in fermentation science, now lives in Middleton, Wis., and works as a cellar hand for Octopi Brewing. (MTSU file photo by Randy Weiler)

Johnston, professor in the MTSU School of Agriculture and director of the Fermentation Science Program, said participants should plan to park at the Livestock Barn building lot and ride the hay wagon to the vineyard.

Volunteers should bring pruners, gloves, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water, and a clean gallon jug to take juice home. Everyone who picks at least 1 lug, or 20 pounds, of fruit will be able to take a gallon of juice home, he said.

Dr. Tony Johnston

Johnston said the harvested grapes will be brought to the pavilion across from the Farmers Market building for de-stemming, crushing and pressing.

“Large-scale grape processing is a messy job, so members of the public are welcome to watch but are not encouraged to assist,” Johnston said.

Grape Harvest Day is a partnership between MTSU’s Fermentation Science Program, the UT Extension and Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension/College of Agriculture. The MTSU School of Agriculture is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments.

For more information, contact Rachel Painter at the UT TSU Extension Rutherford County Office at 615-898-7710 or email rpainter@utk.edu.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)