It’s Pumpkin Patch Season and Agritourism is Booming - But What Exactly is Agritourism?

Authors: Jessica Guarino, Renata Endres, Tyler Swanson, & Bryan Endres

Location: FarmDoc Daily

Published: November 4th, 2021

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As methods of agricultural production evolve, so too do our connections to the sources and understanding of where farmed products originate. Agritourism operations offer a unique opportunity to both producer and consumer to participate in local and regional food systems and community development. For producers, adding agritourism components to their farms offers both economic and social advantages. The USDA has promoted agritourism as a diversification practice, finding that it can offer some of the highest income when compared to other diversification practices.[1] For consumers, the invitation to observe and partake in on-farm activities establishes a deeper relationship to agricultural producers and products that so often are integral parts of culture and tradition. But what precisely does “agritourism” encompass? And, in exploring this question, how can agritourism offer diversification and risk management opportunities for farm businesses?