John R. Clark is a distinguished professor of horticulture at the University of Arkansas.. He has worked in the fruit breeding program since joining the University of Arkansas in 1980. Crops he has worked with include blackberries, table grapes, wine and muscadine grapes, blueberries, and peaches/nectarines. He has developed more than 60 varieties of various fruits and has cooperative breeding activities at several locations in the United States in addition to Europe, Mexico, South America, and Australia. Blackberries are where he has made his most important contributions, with variety innovations such as enhanced postharvest storage potential, primocane (fall) fruiting, and dwarf architecture. He has been recognized for his efforts including induction in the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, the Impact Award by the National Association of Plant Breeders, named a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science, and Distinguished Service Award, North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association.