| Farms Are for Lovers |
(November 3, 2008)
For their wedding at Oz Farm in Mendocino County, Calif., Kate Schatz and Jason Pontius came up with unusual gift baskets, which included head lamps, flashlights, walkie-talkies and other items better suited for construction workers than teary-eyed guests.
But this was a farm wedding, without hotel-like amenities, and the couple from Oakland, Calif., wanted to make the 30 or so friends and relatives staying the weekend as comfortable as possible.
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| Uniting Around Food to Save an Ailing Town |
(October 8, 2008)
This town's granite companies shut down years ago and even the rowdy bars and porno theater that once inspired the nickname "Little Chicago" have gone.
Facing a Main Street dotted with vacant stores, residents of this hardscrabble community of 3,000 are reaching into its past to secure its future, betting on farming to make Hardwick the town that was saved by food.
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| New Alliance Hopes To Preserve Kentucky's Old Barns |
(August 18, 2008)
A few Kentucky agencies met recently to discuss preserving parts of Kentucky's rural landscape that are as familiar as its rolling hills: Its deteriorating barns.
Representatives from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, Preservation Kentucky, the Kentucky Heritage Council and others met recently to talk about an alliance to preserve that buildings that exemplify Kentucky's rural agricultural traditions.
Barn-preservation programs exist in at least 20 states, including Indiana and Ohio. Some barns and farm buildings remain in use across Kentucky, but there are many that are in poor condition, and are increasingly empty or marginally used. Others are dismantled as former farmland is used for roads, housing or industry.
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| Jump on agritourism wave and stay on a farm |
(August 18, 2008)
The setting sun gilds the blond grasses covering the rolling hills of western Marin County. I am sitting on the front porch of the bunkhouse at Cow Track Ranch, rocking in a rickety yet comfortable chair and looking out at a herd of 160 Black Angus beef cattle.
They are milling and mooing outside their barn, anticipating the evening feed. A horse watches me from an adjacent pasture. The earthy scents of grass and animal blend with the smells of ripening tomatoes, lavender, garlic and parsley growing in a garden just a few feet from my feet.
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| The New Agritourism: Hosting Community and Tourists on Your Farm (Book Review) |
(August 18, 2008)
Every October my family makes the trek down the hill from our southeastern Pennsylvania home to Savidge Farms in rural Alburtis where a vast U-pick pumpkin patch is accompanied by a miniature golf course, a corn maze, a combine-turned-jungle-gym and a gift shop.
While we grow pumpkins as part of our cover-crop and no-till experiments at here in the Rodale Institute farm fields�and the farm-operations guys are generous in handing them out to employees�we are, nevertheless, dedicated to faithfully making the short trip to the Savidges each year for the haywagon ride, the ritual of picking out and hauling in our own hulking pumpkin from the field, and to support our farmer-neighbors.
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| Agritourism Event Ideas |
(August 13, 2008)
Looking for an easy way to get started? Here are some "tried-and-true" ideas that have worked well for celebrating Ag Day!
Farmer�s Markets
Local Farmer�s Markets are usually starting up around this time of the year. What better place to emphasize the importance of agriculture? Arrange to have music, samples, fun games for kids and make a day of it.
Ag Day Breakfast
Host an Ag Day breakfast for local government and business leaders. Identify a keynote speaker to talk about agriculture and plan your menu around locally grown and raised agriculture products.
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This article was provided by the Agriculture Council of America in support of the National Agriculture Day program. For more information on Ag Day visit, www.agday.org.
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| How to Start a Pick-Your-Own Operation |
(August 13, 2008)
Farmers often consider converting to a pick-your-own (PYO) because there is reduced labor required for harvesting, PYO's sell produce that is too fragile to ship, and most of the post-harvesting tasks (sorting the produce, storage, packaging, shipping) are eliminated. There are disadvantages, too, however: PYOs generally require long working hours and more liability insurance, the location of the farm must be reasonably close to population centers, and there must be room for parking and traffic.
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This article was provided by pickyourown.org
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| Turnkey online alpaca store for sale |
(April 10, 2008)
Would you like to operate a successful online retail store featuring alpaca products? CuriousAlpaca.com is for sale. Check it out:
www.CuriousAlpaca.com
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| Agritourism Offers Opportunities for Farm Operators |
(April 10, 2008)
In 2004, approximately 52,000 U.S. farms�2.5 percent of all farms�received income from farm-based recreation, totaling about $955 million. Farm-based recreation, or agritourism, refers to a wide variety of onfarm recreational and entertainment-related activities, including hunting, fishing, petting zoos, horseback riding, and onfarm rodeos. As farmers look for alternative sources of income, farm recreation may expand to play a more important role in the future.
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| Agritourism could be the next cash crop |
(April 4, 2008)
Just weeks after attending an agritourism workshop series in Emporia, 13 new agritourism businesses registered with the State of Kansas this morning in Topeka
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| Great domains for sale for alpacas and agritourism |
(July 11, 2007)
Do you operate an alpaca farm or ranch? Are you getting into Agritourism? We have the following domains for sale:
- www.AlpacaTour.com
- www.AlpacaTrail.com
- www.AgritourismTour.com
- www.AgritourismTrail.com
See www.AlpacaTour.com for more details and contact info.
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| Variety Draws Tourists to New York Farms |
(July 3, 2007)
DEBORAH JEANNE
SERGEANT
New York Correspondent
Diversifying one’s business often provides additional income in narrow niche industries or those with fluctuating income. Farming is no different. Many farms in New York are turning to “agritourism” to generate more profit.
The public is welcomed on these farms to tour the facilities, stay overnight at the B&B, attend seasonal events, shop at the market, or pick produce. Some farms offer a restaurant, ice cream cones, children’s activities, and educational presentations. The attractions vary, but the goal remains the same: bring people to the farm to increase profits.
That’s why farms get into agritourism, and tourists — locals and vacationers alike — can’t seem to get enough. Now that most people are at least a couple generations removed from the rural lifestyle once commonplace among the population, agritourism offers a way to get back in touch with their heritage.
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| N.J. farmers rely on special visitors |
(October 29, 2006)
By JEANNE RIDGWAY
Courier-Post Staff
WASHINGTON TWP.
Thousands of school children descended upon Duffield's Farm last week where they rode in farm wagons and made scarecrows by stuffing itchy hay into old flannel shirts and jeans.
The youngsters may not know it, but these playful farm activities, and others like them, help keep New Jersey green in more ways than one.
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| Tourists keep Michigan farms growing -- Corn mazes, cider mills draw visitors |
(October 23, 2006)
ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP -- Being family-friendly has helped the Everett family farm stay in business.
Sycamore Ridge Farm has been home to five generations of Everetts since 1912. They farm only 25 of their 90 acres and keep going by selling their produce directly to the public.
The Everetts are among the growing number of Michigan farm families catering to what are called agri-tourists -- city dwellers and suburbanites who patronize pick-your-own farms, cider mills, wineries, hayrides, corn mazes and other farm activities.
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| Entrepreneur rethinks farming income |
(October 23, 2006)
Salt Lake Tribune - USA
... Eckert, who formed Eckert AgriMarketing, has since become a speaker nationwide, teaching the basics of agritourism to help farmers supplement their incomes and ...
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| Growing Rwandan Tourism Industry Develops New Concept. |
(October 23, 2006)
Voice of America - USA
... In Rwanda, Silverback Adventures has recently added agritourism to its list of offerings. ... Kayihura distinguishes between agritourism and ecotourism. ...
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| Curious Alpaca .com launches |
(July 14, 2006)
Check out the newest online alpaca gift shop at CuriousAlpaca.com.
They stock locally made alpaca products, as well as a large line of imported items. Find something for everyone in the family at CuriousAlpaca.com.
www.CuriousAlpaca.com
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| Mandarin groves add variety to foothills |
(January 30, 2006)
The Associated Press
LOOMIS — Garlic has drawn hordes of tourists to Gilroy every summer for years. Half Moon Bay has its pumpkins; the ranches around Placerville have Apple Hill.
Now come the new kids on the block: Placer Valley’s mandarin groves.
Heading to the Sierra foothills in winter to buy citrus by the 10-pound bag and to tour orchards bursting with plump fruit might seem counterintuitive. But in this protected valley, whose soil and climate are ideal for mandarins, their orange glow along winding country roads reflects the fall foliage palette and brightens the early winter landscape long after pumpkins have been consigned to livestock feed.
Stopping to chat with growers, wander the orchards, sample hot mandarin orange tea and maybe catch some music and browse local art makes a perfect pastoral weekend.
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| That's Agritainment! |
(October 25, 2005)
More family farmers are turning their homesteads into tourist attractions in an effort to turn a profit
By ANITA HAMILTON
Posted Monday, Oct. 24, 2005
Third-generation corn farmer Paul Siegel says working the land will always be his true love. "There's nothing like planting a seed, nurturing it and harvesting it," says the owner of Siegel's Cottonwood Farms in Crest Hill, Ill., near Chicago. But Siegel admits that it is his annual Pumpkin Fest that keeps his farm afloat. Started in 1990, with a pumpkin patch and hayrides, Siegel's fall festival has mushroomed into a full-fledged theme park complete with haunted barns, a petting zoo, a 10-acre corn maze and snacks such as smoked turkey legs, kettle corn and funnel cake. The festival attracts more than 30,000 visitors each fall and brings in three times the revenue of Siegel's 400 acres of corn, soybean and grain crops. "I still get to plant in the spring and harvest in the fall," says Siegel, "but I have four kids to feed and send to college. We have to make it."
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| Agri-Tour Adventure for Seniors Explores Hawai‘i’s Food, Fruits, and Flowers |
(October 19, 2005)
(Volcano, Hawai‘i) -- The Volcano Art Center is pleased to announce its brand new Elderhostel program, "From Field to the Table: Hawai‘i’s Food, Fruits, and Flowers," offered for the first time this winter. This agri-tourism adventure for those 55 and older offers a "taste of paradise" on two islands, Hawai‘i (the Big Island) and Maui, for 10 days and 9 nights. Participants experience exciting natural, cultural, and historical features of Hawai‘i on this multi-stop tour while enjoying the Hawaiian islands’ famous Pacific Regional Cuisine. Tour dates are February 13-22 and March 13-22, 2006.
Full News Story
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| Popular autumn event: King Ferry Winery's Harvest Festival |
(October 10, 2005)
The winery has been hosting the festival for eight years to celebrate its annual grape yield. For the last two years, the festival has been held in conjunction with the Fall Family Weekend, which joins three local events - the winery's Harvest Festival along with a pair of Lansing events, Bakers' Acres' Apple Fest and the agri-tours at Indian Chimney Farm. The three locations are in close proximity to one another, making it easy for visitors to stop by all three businesses over the course of the weekend.
"Each location has a different aspect to it that makes each event so much fun," said Jessica Kraske, a King Ferry Winery employee.
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| A host of rural pleasures in Gangwon |
(August 9, 2005)
In 2003, 82 residents of Pyeongchang county created a network of farmstays to help the regional economy. It was an alternative set up by the villagers in the area to compete against the luxury pensions that became a popular form of lodging in the area in the late 1990s.
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| Agritourism for Farm Income |
(July 25, 2005)
The agricultural sector employs more than 80% of the Nepalese population, and generates nearly 40% of national GDP. Despite government’s continuous initiatives on agricultural development over the past 50 years, the country has a serious food deficit. Annual agricultural trade deficit may easily reach 300 million US$ in 2015. Almost 90% of the Nepalese live in the rural areas, and less than 50% of the population has access to clean drinking water. To alleviate rural poverty it is necessary to have a substantial increase in farm income.
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| Program puts money behind state effort on agritourism |
(July 11, 2005)
The Kansas Department of Commerce is convinced that agritourism can help the Kansas economy grow, and it's providing money to prove it.
Farmers or organizations that want to operate agritourism businesses can apply for scholarships to help them attend conferences, seminars and educational tours to learn how other agritourism vendors operate.
The $25,000 program will award up to $5,000 for conferences or up to $2,000 to help pay for trips and tours.
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| AGRITOURISM: WORRYING, AFTER 'BOOM' THINGS ARE STILL |
(June 22, 2005)
(AGI) - Rome, Italy
There are starting to be difficulties and problems for agritourism. After the 'boom' in the last years, today the sector is going through a growth crisis. The situation has to be stabilised, diversify the hospitability and improve the quality of the services. These were the observations that emerged from today's meeting of Green Tourism, the agritourist association of the IFA (Italian Farmers' Association), where the stagnation that heavily weighed down the Italian economy, and struck all the farming agencies, which did not spare the agritourist businesses was observed.
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| Agritourism stymied by liability insurance |
(May 25, 2005)
By Michelle Saxton
The Associated Press
Cummins Farm in Jackson County has branched out in recent years, from growing produce and making salsa to also becoming a tourist attraction.
Visitors may can tomatoes and peppers in the Pick Your Own season at the end of July, while students come in the fall for hayrides and the "Pizza Patch," a garden that displays many ingredients in the popular food.
The family farm is part of West Virginia’s agritourism industry, which includes activities that offer the public a glimpse into rural life.
But for many in the industry, finding affordable liability insurance is an obstacle.
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| Gorgeous Web Sites Designed |
(May 5, 2005)
The developers of Agritourism World unveiled a brand new website today. Now available is low-cost web hosting ONLY $99/year gets you website hosting and email ! Gorges Web Sites will develop an Internet solution that fits you right
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| Tourists discover fresh sights, fruit, fish |
(April 24, 2005)
Fruitpicking, fishcatching and floating market tours are becoming more popular for domestic and international tourists to My Tho City and Cai Be Commune of Tien Giang Province, about 100km and 70km, respectively, west of HCM City.
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| Tourism Officials Predict Strong Summer Season |
(April 21, 2005)
By: BY RANDY DOCKENDOR
High gas prices shouldn't slow down what could be a banner tourism season for the region, predict the leaders of two visitor organizations.
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| Agritourism: The county's next big thing? |
(April 13, 2005)
Community leaders from around Calaveras County will convene in Murphys on Friday to talk about agritourism, a fast-growing travel trend that boosts agricultural endeavors by inviting tourists to participate, such as farm tours or dude ranches.
The event is sponsored by the Calaveras Visitors Bureau and will feature Jane Eckert, an agritourism expert.
Learn more
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