Florida A&M University celebrated its annual Grape Harvest Festival on Saturday. The event drew thousands of participants and a congressman.
The event was at FAMU’s Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research on Mahan Drive. It featured grape stomping, grape throwing and grape picking…and lines of people waiting for their turn to sample grapes and wine.
Congressman Neal Dunn of Panama City, whose district includes FAMU, says he appreciates the university’s agricultural contributions.
“Agriculture is the number-one economic driver in the Second Congressional District of the State of Florida,” he said. “People think it’s, you know, state government or military bases. It’s not. It’s agriculture.”
FAMU President Larry Robinson enjoyed welcoming the visitors…
“...to be able to hold this in person and see all these folks come out to learn more about the viticulture center and this wonderful asset -- not only to Tallahassee but to the state of Florida and the entire region where muscadine grapes are grown,” he said.
The Legislature established the viticulture center in 1978. It’s recognized internationally for excellence in warm climate grape research.
