Arkansas Living Magazine by Kat Robinson, June 19, 2023

Ever wanted to pick your own muscadines for making jelly or juice, or just for enjoyment? This Sept. 29-30, you have your chance at the 2023 Post Familie Vineyards Muscadine You-Pick event.

“No equipment is necessary to enjoy the experience of walking the vineyards, picking and eating fresh fruit right off the vines,” says Joseph Post, vice president of sales for Post Familie Vineyards and Winery. “We charge everyone a $5 per person entry fee, which comes with a 1-quart cup to collect and carry home their fruit.”

Muscadines are native to Arkansas. The thick-skinned grapes are well-known for being great for making jelly, jam, juice and wine. It takes two to three years for a muscadine vine to produce its first fruit, but it can continue to produce for up to 20 years beyond that. There’s no need to wait on your vines to grow; you can just venture out to Post Familie for this special event and harvest your own.

And you aren’t limited to just a quart.

“We sell bigger cardboard boxes with plastic liners for those who want to harvest greater amounts of muscadines,” Post says. “We also allow serious pickers to bring their own containers (5-gallon buckets) and hand-pulled wagons to collect their fruits. All containers are weighed in and out.”

Self-picked muscadines cost $1.50 a pound. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Research and Extension Service recommends cutting clusters from the vine with shears or a knife into your basket or bucket, then keeping them in a cool place or refrigerator. The fruit should be processed within a few days. It also makes a marvelous snack.

Post Familie Vineyards Muscadine You-Pick, 1700 Saint Mary’s Mountain Road, Altus

Sept. 29-30  •  9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

postwinery.com  •  479-468-6400

Kat Robinson, author and Arkansas food historian, just released her 12th book, “The Great Arkansas Pie Book,” available at local and nationwide retailers.