Springing into Agri-Tourism
Posted on | April 24, 2009 | 1 Comment
You don’t have to look very far to see community events, festivals and celebrations springing up this time of year in communities across the country.
Travel and tourism is big business that can have positive impacts on small communities … and agri-tourism - tourism that takes place in rural areas, farms, ranches, etc. - offers an important opportunity to generate additional farm income, helping to keep farms and local economies viable.
And while those living on farms or in rural areas may not consider a farm experience as unique, agri-tourism is a fast growing segment of the tourism industry as people increasingly seek out experiences tied to nature and farm-related activities.
So how can agri-tourism fit into your farm plan? Before jumping head-first into any activities, understand that agri-tourism is NOT for everyone and seek to define your agri-tourism venture as either:
Supplementary
- A minor activity that would support primary farm/agricultural activities or products. For example, if your primary activity is livestock production, you could decide to invite school and community groups to your farm to learn about your animals, your occupation, or to sample food items related to your production.
Complementary
- Activities that would share equal footing with other activities in your farm product mix. For example, if you have a berry production enterprise, you could harvest and sell half of your berries to a wholesaler and promote the remainder as a “pick-your-own” activity for guests on your farm. The two enterprises (the wholesale market and the direct market) would be complementary activities.
Primary
- The dominant activity on your farm. For example, a winery or bed & breakfast operation. While you may grow produce to supplement these enterprises, your winery or bed & breakfast activities are the primary driver of your farm earnings.
Agri-tourism has the potential to become whatever you want it to be.
Think about what your farm or rural area has to offer. What products could you sell visitors? What other attractions are in the area? Can you partner with a neighbouring farm or organization to create destination experiences? Are you willing to be a public ambassador for your venture 24/7?
There are numerous resources (try here, here, or here) to help individuals think creatively, plan effectively, and nurture agri-tourism ventures … in whatever form they might take.
“We all have hometown appetites. Every other person is a bundle of longing for the simplicities of good taste once enjoyed on the farm or in the hometown he or she left behind.”
- Clementine Paddleford (American journalist 1900-1967)
Note: This post also appears at FarmOn.com … feel free to leave a comment or join the discussion at either place!
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Community development, growth and communication in the rural-urban fringe landscape.
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April 24th, 2009 @ 11:05 am
[...] Springing into Agri-Tourism : The Rurban Fringe [...]