Muscadines
Muscadines are the latest addition to our Fruit Breeding Program, with our first two variety releases in 2025. Our muscadine breeding efforts are focused on developing fresh market and processing varieties that are well-suited to our growing region and have desirable consumer characteristics, like tender skins and outstanding flavor.
Mighty FineTM
Mighty FineTM is the first fresh-market muscadine released by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in 2025. Mighty FineTM is a vigorous and cold-hardy vine with self-fertile (perfect) flowers. It produces large, black berries with a dry stem scar, tender skin, outstanding sweetness, and a classic muscadine flavor.
AltusTM
AltusTM is the first processing muscadine released by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture in 2025. AltusTM vines are vigorous and cold-hardy with self-fertile (perfect) flowers. It is intended as a complement to Noble, the dominant black-fruited muscadine used in juice and wine production. Juices and wines made from AltusTM have compared very favorably to Noble in consumer trials and its larger fruit size makes it suitable for dual use in the fresh and processing markets.