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76 W i n e s & V i n e s J U LY 2 0 1 4 WineEast News Arkansas Viticulturist Justin Morris Dies UA professor promoted vineyard mechanization to advance efficiency and wine quality F ayetteville, Ark.—Justin R. Morris, distinguished professor emeritus of the Institute of Food Science and Engineering at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, died May 19 at age 77. Morris received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Arkansas and earned a Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He returned to the University of Arkansas and began to research the produc- tion, harvesting and processing systems for different fruits—especially wine grapes. His work with vineyard mechanization started in 1966 and was sparked by con- cerns about the cost of vineyard labor and the potential shortage of a reliable supply of vineyard workers. Initial research involved the development of the grape harvester, along with research into trellis systems that would accommodate the machines and into the effects of mechani- cal harvesting on grape and wine quality. Balanced cropping was the next vineyard process to be addressed, and research about the mechanization of pruning, shoot- thinning and fruit-thinning followed. In his book, Vineyard Mechanization: Development and Status in the United States and in Major Grape Producing Regions of the World, Morris stated his vision for mecha- nization: "As the vineyard activities related to harvest and achieving balanced cropping became mechanized, it was realized that commercial prosperity of the grape industry would eventually rely heavily on complete systems of vineyard mechanization." This research, done in cooperation with grapegrower and inventor Tom Oldridge, resulted in the development of more than 40 different machines and attachments to mechanize vineyard operations that previously had required hand labor. During his years at the University of Arkansas, Morris also helped develop the university's Institute of Food Science and Engineering and became its director in 1995. The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Farm Bureau recognized Morris' contributions to the grape and wine industry by nominating him to the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2008. —Linda Jones McKee winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Justin Morris Arkansas." The collaboration of Justin Morris (left) and Tom Oldridge resulted in the development of more than 40 machines to replace hand labor. Waterloo_Nov10.qxp 8/26/10 11:36 AM Page 1